| By Achong Tanjong
An area in the Temburong
district has been identified as the ‘Permanent Fruit Zone’,
in an effort to help increase fruit production as well as to
preserve fruits which are slowly disappearing in the country.
The district has created the
Peradayan and Temburong Station under the Fruit Development
Unit, which is a fruit plasma collection centre.
At the station, an area of 40
hectares of land was cultivated by the locals, and ever since
its formation 16 years ago the station has cultivated various
types of fruits which are becoming extinct.
Among them are bayong, durian
kura-kura, mangkuang, laba, nibong, limpaong and pinanasan.
The cultivation is aimed at
preserving local fruit trees as well as increasing various sorts
of fruit plasma collection which can be found in the country.
The move is to ensure that
these trees will not disappear from the face of the earth due to
the rapid development.
The trees are under careful
watch to ensure the quality of its plasma for the purpose of
genetic source research, and to preserve and upgrade the quality
of its plasma.
According to an official, the
station continues to plant other trees which are becoming
scarce, such as pitabu and manugang.
With the aim to turn the
station into an agro-tourism destination and a fruits research
centre, an environment will be created to resemble an island of
fruits (Pulau Buah-buahan).
The Temburong district is
well-known for its padi production in the country, most of which
are sold to the local market.
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