KUCHING: A gaharu (agarwood) expert will share his knowledge on planting the trees with locals in Sarawak soon.
Samarahan Foochow Association chairman Hu Kii Hiing said Ipoh-based Gaharu Technologies Sdn Bhd MD Ho Khoon Meng has agreed on technology transfer – from planting to production – of gaharu trees.
”We have come to preliminary consensus on the project,” he said in a press release, after leading a group of 60 to visit a gaharu plantation in Gopeng, Perak recently.
“Our associate Ho Kwan Meng, managing director of Gaharu Technologies Sdn Bhd, nodded to my request that he agreed to offer his help in the planting of gaharu trees, including sharing its technology in manufacturing productions,” said Hu.
The press release said Ho has over 20 years experience in planting gaharu trees, and has owned 300 acres of gaharu trees since 1992 in Gopeng. He practises organic farming and does not use any artificial fertilisers, insecticides or pesticides.
He has a factory to process gaharu tea and produce 36 types of gaharu products like gaharu soap, soup, cookies, ice cream, medicine, wood, and oil extract. Currently, 80 staff help Ho to operate the business.
Hu, who is also Foochow Town organising committee chairman, added that the association and organising committee would work out procedures on how members can benefit from the technology transfer.
He also proposed setting up a Trust Board Committee to monitor the venture and for a sum of money to be allocated to the committee.
“We want to ensure the Trust Board itself will run in a proper manner with transparency, so as to safeguard the interests of the people who participate in this project.”
The association, he said, would promote the project among its members and also the public, who can be shareholders of the project.
“Gaharu trees have a very high economic and medicinal value. Since ancient times, not only the members of the royal family, even the peasants in general have been consuming gaharu products like lavender, which emit gaharu fragrance, not only is the scent refreshing but also expels the evil or bad things away.