Sabah aspires to be top regional fruit producer
Published on: Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah aspires to position itself as a top tropical fruit producer in the region. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the State Government would focus on research and development, quarantine enforcement and agropreneur development in its effort to achieve the said objective. He said the State Government was aware of the challenges faced by the tropical fruit sector, including the emergence of pests and diseases, and viewed the issues seriously.
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"State Government agencies such as the Agriculture Department are taking precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of diseases by strengthening quarantine procedures and enforcement at all entry points into the State. "For example, soil from outside Sabah is not allowed to be brought into the State. Fruits brought into Sabah require a permit from the Agriculture Department. All these efforts have been heightened to prevent the repeat of similar incidences such as the 'Citrus Greening Disease' which wiped off the once flourishing industry of Sabah's famed 'Limau Manis Beaufort'. This happened due to the smuggling of citrus fruits from China," he said. Mohd Shafie said to meet the increasing demand for tropical fruits and cater to the ever-changing trend over the past decade, the industry has to remain relevant by embracing transformation and confronting the roadblocks ahead. "Sabah henceforth welcomes discourse among various stakeholders in the industry to come up with sound recommendations to safeguard the tropical fruit sector," he said when officiating the International Conference on Tropical Fruit Pests and Diseases (TROPED) 2018, here, Tuesday. His speech was read by Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Assistant Minister Dr Daud Yusof.
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Sabah's abundant agricultural resources provide vast opportunities for its people when strategic enablers and innovation are coupled to boost the agriculture sector, said Mohd Shafie, adding that the agriculture sector contributed about 20 per cent to the State's GDP in 2016. "Over the last two decades, the tropical fruit industry has experienced phenomenal growth as new markets are taking shape given the rising demand from consumers. The tropical fruit industry in Sabah has gained a new-found importance," he said.
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He said the State Government acknowledged this and was seeking innovative and sustainable ways to develop the industry by diversifying away from traditional economies, commodities such as oil palm or cocoa. "Strategic investments in the industry and channelling efforts in the right direction can provide long-term benefits not only for economic sustainability but also in achieving food security. "The Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry (Mafi) Sabah advocates agricultural diversification – a shift from oil palm cultivation to alternatives such as tropical fruits to supplement local food demands as well as for foreign markets. This would indefinitely boost farmers' income and encourage economic growth," he said. He said tropical fruits such as pineapples, durians, bananas and avocados have great potential in the State. Sabah's own native fruits such as 'tarap', 'bambangan', 'durian dalit' (red-fleshed durian) and many other wild fruit species have great market potential but remain economically untapped. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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