NAFAS ENCOURAGES MEMBERS TO PLANT HIGH-QUALITY DURIANS TO GENERATE NEW INCOME SOURCE

KUALA KRAI, July 20 (Bernama) -- The National Farmers Organisation (NAFAS) encourages members to venture into planting high-quality durians such as Musang King and Black Thorn to generate a new source of income.

Its chairman, Datuk Zamri Yaakob said planting such durians is one of the efforts by NAFAS to explore new sources of income by focusing on the high-quality fruit-growing sector.

He said the cultivation of good quality durians can generate good income and bring big profits to farmers.

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"For example, the Pahang Farmers' Organisation Authority (LPP) has planted durians in Kampung Mahkota, Kuantan over the last few years, and is now releasing the results in stages,” he told Bernama after attending the 45th NAFAS annual general meeting here today.

"A total of 600 Musang King and Blackthorn durian trees were planted in the 20-hectare (ha) area.

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NAFAS-DURIANS 2 KUALA KRAI

Earlier, Zamri presented the Farmer Entrepreneur Empowerment Programme matching grants (Rise-Up) and a grant of RM57,860 for the Small and Medium Machinery Ownership Programme to farmers in the Kuala Krai Area Farmers' Organisation (PPK).

 Zamri also said NAFAS is planning to plant coconuts in 120 ha of land in Bandar Penawar, Johor, adding that these fruits will be exported to Singapore as young coconuts and will certainly generate  good income.

Meanwhile, Persatuan Pelabur Pertanian Gua Musang said Bumiputeras are less interested in cultivating Musang King durians in the district.

Its chairman, Lim Chin Chee said so far more than 1,000 durian farmers are registered under the association and of this number, the majority are Chinese.

He said they comprised individuals and small companies who are currently cultivating 4,046 ha of plantation land in the district.

"I ask the Bumiputeras in Gua Musang to get involved together in cultivating the durian crops, in addition to further expanding the production capacity of Musang King to be marketed in the country and abroad.

"Musang king, including those from Gua Musang, need to be introduced more widely in order to acknowledge Kelantan as one of the main producing states in the country," he told reporters after organising a Musang King durian competition, attended by 32 durian producers, at Dewan Tokong Pulai here today.

-- BERNAMA

TAGS: Nafas, durians, high quality, farmers, Gua Musang

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