Ding plucks a fig fruit at the greenhouse.
BINTANGOR: Meradong assemblyman Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing welcomes the new farming concept to boost the local agriculture sector.
He said this during he soft opening of of Yumegro Ecofarm at Jalan KJD near here yesterday.
With new farming concept, farmers do not rely solely on production to generate income but also as an agro-tourism product to earn even more income, he said.
“For instance, Yumegro Ecofarm’s main crop might be fig, but due to its strategic location along the Pan Borneo Highway, the farm could generate extra income if it can be made into a popular tourist destination.
“Working together with other farms in the area which adopt similar concept such as the planting of Cavendish banana and vegetable, they could offer an attractive agro-tourism package,” he said, adding, more local farmers would be interested to follow suit if such undertakings thrive in the future.
Ding commended the management of Yumegro Ecofarm for its willingness to share information and expertise on the farming concept with local farmers.
He also said he would offer his assistance to the local farmers if they were interested to work together to undertake modern farming concept.
“I am prepared to relay any good proposal for consideration to the Ministry of Agriculture, and on my part, I would consider allocating part of my RTP or MRP fund for the project.”
Meanwhile, according to a staff at the farm, they started fig farming in one greenhouse three years ago, and gradually increased it to 11 now.
“However, only two (greenhouses) are now producing fruits,” she said, adding they harvested about 800 fruits a month mainly for export to Singapore.
The volume was still too small and not even enough to meet the demand of Singapore’s market, she added
CEO of Yumegro Ecofarm Thomas Tiong, Yumegro Bhd founder Johnny Tiong, and farm manager Desmond Wong were also present at the event.