AGRICULTURAL SECTOR NEEDS VALUE-ADD ACTIVITIES, INNOVATION

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah,Malaysia), Nov 30 (Bernama) -- Agriculture and Food
Industry Minister Yahya Hussin said the state's agricultural sector can be
boosted through value-added activities and innovation.

"We should add value to all agricultural activities right from seedling
production, plantation management to processing, packaging and marketing," he
said.

He was speaking at the signing of a joint-venture agreement between the Rural
Development Corporation (KPD) and Mitomasa Sdn Bhd to plant and process the
herbal plant moringa oleifera on a commercial basis in East Malaysia state of
Sabah, here Tuesday.

Welcoming the collaboration between KPD and Mitomasa, Yahya said Sabah should
tap the huge potential in state's herbal industry.

Meanwhile the corporation's general manager Datu Basrun Datu Mansor said a
moringa plantation would be set up in Nabawan, starting with an area of about
200 hectares.

"The overall project is expected to cost RM12 million and provide about 200
jobs," he said.