Dr Abdul Rahman speaking at the Durian Disease Management and Control Course in Kota Samarahan, on Saturday.
KOTA SAMARAHAN: The organisation of the Durian Disease Management and Control Course further strengthens the productivity of durian farmers in Sarawak.
Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development of Sarawak, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said that systematic plantation management aspects, the use of quality fertilisers and the right pesticides are important elements in increasing the yield of durian crops, especially in facing the increasingly complex challenges of disease attacks.
According to him, the durian industry has great potential as one of the high-value commodities in Sarawak, hence the mastery of technical knowledge by farmers needs to be continuously improved so that the results obtained are more consistent and of better quality.
"With the continued support of FastGrow Fertilizer, it is hoped that the use of quality fertilisers, appropriate pesticides and proper management knowledge can help durian farmers in Sarawak increase crop productivity and reduce the risk of losses due to disease attacks," he said when speaking at the course here, on Saturday.
Citing a report from the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS), Dr Rahman, who is also the Chairman of the Sarawak State Farmers' Organisation (PPNS), also explained that courses like this not only provide exposure to effective disease control methods, but also help farmers understand the importance of good agricultural practices or 'Good Agricultural Practices' (GAP) to ensure the sustainability of Sarawak's agricultural sector.
"PPNS's role is very significant in guiding farmers through technology transfer, continuous training and strategic collaboration with the private sector and related agencies," he said.
In this regard, he said, participation in this course is very important because participants will be exposed to the correct methods of caring for durian plants throughout the year, covering aspects of fertilization, disease control, plantation management and preparation for the fruiting season in stages and effectively.
Also present were MQH Resources Sdn Bhd Operations and Sales Director Hamzah Hamid, Bayer CS Malaysia representative Alex Sim and PPNS General Manager Gom Raway.
