KOTA KINABALU: Sabah now has a facility capable of turning food wastes into high quality organic fertilizer in just 24 hours.
The first of its kind processing plant located in Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) can produce up to 12,000 metric tons of ready-to-use fertilizer annually.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin, who visited the factory yesterday, urged farmers to consider changing from chemical to organic fertilizer for their crops as it is more sustainable and environmental friendly.
Yahya, who is also Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, directed the Agriculture Department and other related agencies to look into how they can further promote and facilitate the use of organic fertilizer among farmers in the State.
“I hope farmers and departments concerned can look into the issue of sustainability and use more environmental friendly options. Organic fertilizer, such as that produced here too is very effective in increasing the yield of crops,” he said.
He also called on hoteliers and restaurant operators to come join the effort by sorting their food wastes to be used as raw materials for making organic fertilizer at facilities like this.
The plant, run by Glomus Ecology Sdn Bhd, is aiming to increase its sales to 5,000 metric tons this year.
Its sales and marketing director, Julian Mickey Niun, said demand for organic fertilizer had increased over the years as farmers began to have better awareness and understanding of their role in protecting the environment.
He said they recorded sales of 1,000 metric tons of fertilizer last year and with the completion of their expansion project, they will be able to take on the increasing demand from their growing customers.
Also present were Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry political secretary Ewon Benedict, Glomus Ecology director Phang @ Puah Joo See, and its Research and Development director Dr Puah Chum Mok.