Perm Sec hands seedlings to villagers

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Department of Agriculture and Agrifood yesterday presented seedlings of a local fruit 'nangka' to residents of Kg Tanjong Nangka during a ceremony organised by SATENAGA, with cooperation from the Mukim Consultative Council of Mukim Sengkurong and Village Consultative Council of Kg Tanjong Nangka.

On hand to present the seedlings was Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources Hjh Normah Suria Hayati binti PJDSMDSU (Dr) Hj Awg Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri, who, in a speech, expressed her desire to see the village becoming renown for the fruit.

At the same time, she expressed hopes of seeing the village become an attraction to both foreign and domestic tourists, through the production of diverse products deriving from the fruit.

Villagers should review the products that have been produced by their past generations, using the fruit, for example, as an ingredient in preparing porridge and fritters, as well as in making of handicraft as the tree trunk is long-lasting.

She noted the village is suitable for the planting of this fruit, and that it can later be made as a tourist product. In this regard, the younger generations should be more creative and innovative in inventing new products such

as ice-cream, juice, sweets and so forth.

The local fruit planting campaign is meaningful especially if it involves children as this will teach them to become responsible and also encourage a love for nature.

The event yesterday is in line with a programme prepared by the department in its effort to further strengthen local fruit planting in the country, with the objective of preventing extinction of these local fruits as well as increasing their production.

The recent fruit season saw the community enjoying an array of local fruits, thus demonstrating that the campaign which began in 2008 has been fruitful.

Such momentum needs to be continuous, ensuring not only that the is enough to be sold, but also sufficient to be diversified or processed.

Revenues raked in through the plantation of the fruits will provide side income for villagers, and can also be made as a product under the 'One Village, One Product' project, she concluded.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin