Article: Perak zeros in on farming

Thursday June 18, 2009

PERAK is set to make the agriculture sector its new income earner.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the availability of land and the suitable Malaysian weather had enabled the state to join hands with the private sector to venture into agriculture on a commercial scale.

Green interest: Sultan Azlan Shah, accompanied by Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Bainun, taking a closer look at the medicinal plants at the newly refurbished Herbal Park in Kampung Kepayang near Ipoh.

"At present, the state is the nett exporter for several types of vegetables, seafood products and commodities," he said at the launching of the state Herbal Park by Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah in Kampung Kepayang near Ipoh on Tuesday.

Dr Zambry said agriculture use had been extended to ex-mining pond and such an effort had helped to develop new growth areas which would enable the rakyat to enjoy.

On the Herbal Park, he said it was a beginning into producing herbs commercially as a total of 22ha of ex-mining pond had been rehabilitated and made into the park which housed 525 species of herbs.

"Among the herbs available in the park are tongkat ali,kacip fatimah, mas cotek, hempedu bumi,misai kucing and dukung anak.

"These herbs have carved their names in the medical and pharmaceutical field," he added.

Dr Zambry hoped that the park would "ignite" the people's interest to further explore the field.

He said: "It is hoped that commercial farming for herbs can be made the new income earner for the state and the people."

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: North 18 June 2009