BALINGIAN, Feb 16: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah advised durian farmers to take care of their existing trees to ensure a high-yield.
The Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister said a scheduled fertiliser application is needed in order to induce better fruiting.
“The days where we leave it to nature to do this is no longer applicable and if we want better harvest in the next fruiting season, we must start to care for them,” he said during the Agriculture Department community outreach programme at Rh Gansu, Sungai Arip, yesterday.
He added that the Agriculture Department is organising a durian tree rehabilitation and maintenance programme and advised local farmers to attend such programme to get a better understanding and knowledge in the agricultural industry.
Uggah noted that a Collecting, Processing and Packaging Centre (CPPC) for durian would be set up in the state to buy all surplus fruits.
“We are now exporting durian paste to China. We want to strengthen our supply chain,” he said, adding that in order to introduce the concept of modern farming to the people here, a model fertigation farm had been proposed in Selangau.
Uggah also announced a grant of RM20,000 to the longhouse Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) and another RM20,000 for its Women’s Bureau fund. — DayakDaily
