Uggah (right) and Abang Johari show the durian fruit produced by Top Fruits. Also with them are Dr Abdul Rahman (left), Lai (second right) and Chong (centre). — Photo by Tan Song Wei
KUCHING: The Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development will convert the Individual Quick Freezing (IQF) Plant in Tarat, Serian into a collection, processing and packaging centre (CPPC).
Its minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said Top Fruits Sdn Bhd, an established company from Johor with sound knowledge, vast experience and expertise in the fruit industry will manage the plant.
“The reason for this is that they have the technology, knowledge, the system within the supply chain in processing and most importantly, the market.
“This is one of the new features of our Agriculture Transformation Programme which is to have a CPPC so that we can transport our products to the rest of the world,” he said at the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between the state government and Top Fruits (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd at Penview Convention Centre (PCC) near here yesterday.
Uggah, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, said Top Fruits has almost 30 years of experience in durian production and international marketing.
“That is the reason why we are bringing them to Sarawak as part of our first step to rehabilitate the durian industry in the state.
“They will become our anchor company and as the anchor company, they must be able to assist us throughout the supply chain from production, processing, transportation as well as marketing.”
He added that the collaboration between the state government and Top Fruits will also contribute towards improving the income of durian farmers.
During the ceremony, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the signing of the MoU bewteen State Agriculture Department director Datu Lai Kui Fong for the state and Top Fruits Sdn Bhd director Dr Tan Sue Yee.
Also present were Abang Johari’s wife Datin Patinggi Dato Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Uggah, Assistant Minister of Native Land Development Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Datuk Anthony Nogeh, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani, State Agriculture Department deputy director Dr Alvin Chai and Top Fruits (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd director Chong Yie Long.