N. SEMBILAN DRAWS UP LONG-TERM STRATEGY TO BECOME AGRICULTURAL EXPORT HUB

SEREMBAN, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- The Negeri Sembilan government is formulating a long-term strategy to turn the state into a leading agricultural export hub, with a focus on large-scale fruit and grain cultivation.

Senior state executive councillor Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias said the initiative is expected to have a significant impact on the local economy through the production of fruits such as pineapples, durians, jackfruits, as well as grain corn, which will not only meet domestic needs but also hold strong export potential.

He said grain corn cultivation is being given special attention as a source of feed for livestock such as cattle, goats and chickens.

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“Areas such as Londah, Gemas have been identified as highly suitable starting sites, with 40 hectares allocated for the development of grain corn seed production.

“Apart from padi fields, these areas are also very suitable for corn cultivation. We will expand this to all districts in stages according to the suitability of each location. We will also establish zoning to encourage farming activities within the community,” he told reporters recently.

Jalaluddin said the state government is also focusing on producing high-quality durians, particularly in Jelebu district, which currently has nearly 10,000 hectares of durian plantations.

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He said the state government is forging strategic collaborations with several private parties, including joint-venture partners from Guangzhou, to expand the export market for durians.

“During my visit to China last year, I officiated at the opening of a ‘Jelebu Durian’ outlet in Guangzhou city. Although the fruits were frozen and took one to two weeks to arrive, their quality and taste remained intact… there, a single durian can fetch between RM180 and RM200. This is an opportunity that must be seized,” he said.

Jalaluddin, who is State Agriculture, Food Security and Cost of Living Committee chairman, stressed the importance of diversifying fruit crops as durians are seasonal.

“We need to encourage the cultivation of other fruits so that farmers’ incomes are not dependent only on the durian season. This effort will be reinforced through strategic partnerships and the planning of cultivation zones based on local potential,” he said.

He said that with the implementation of this long-term plan, Negeri Sembilan is poised to become one of the leading producers and exporters of fruits and livestock feed in the region.

-- BERNAMA