LIMBANG: A total of RM7 million has been spent by the state government to ensure that the pilot durian rehabilitation project is successful in producing

plentiful, quality and healthy fruits to meet local demand and for export.

In disclosing this, Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said the project is a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and Top Fruits (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, which has 20 years experience in the durian industry.

He said the state government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Top Fruits Company (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd this year, to assist durian farmers to produce high quality durian fruits and in managing the industry.

Dr Abdul Rahman, who is also Bukit Kota assemblyman, said four areas – Serian, Betong, Long Lama and Limbang – had been identified for the project.

“Rehabilitating the existing durian estates is one of the best, fastest and most effective ways used by the government to produce durian fruits to meet the demand from both local and overseas markets.

“To help meet such target, here in Limbang District alone we have identified 5,000 out of 45,000 durian trees to be rehabilitated,” he said at the Durian Estate Rehabilitation Programme at Kampung Bangkuati yesterday.

Also present were Limbang Division agriculture officers Jafaruddin Ali and Alex Ding, representatives of Top Fruits Company (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd Benson Kho and Foo Kian Shung and Bangkuati village headman Yahya Simali.