Malaysia's Sabah To Produce Quality Seaweed In Large Quantities

SEMPORNA (Sabah), April 25 (Bernama) -- Sabah will come out with a mechanism to ensure large production of quality seaweed as well as to ensure sufficient supply of raw materials for local industrialisation purposes. Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) Minister, Junz Wong said the ministry was developing the seaweed industry through three categories namely nucleus farms, clusters projects and mini estates programmes. “Between 2019 and 2020, we are targeting to develop 400 farmers and their families through nucleus farms which are expected to cover 200 hectares and it is expected to produce 1,200 tonnes per year. “Meanwhile, 10 clusters projects will be developed covering 1,000 hectares. Through this effort a total of 1,000 entrepreneurs and their family members will be involved and expected to produce 8,000 tonnes per annum,” he told reporters after visiting several seaweed farms at Kg Gelam-Gelam, here, Thursday. He was on a two-day working visit to Tawau and Semporna. Besides the nucleus and clusters projects, 10 anchor companies will be targeted to develop 1,000 hectares of mini estates, he said. “This programme is expected to create around 300 employment opportunities and produce a total output of 10,000 tonnes per year,” he added. During his trip, Junz also visited a seaweed collection centre, Pemborong Jaya Sama owned by a local here. This centre is providing employment to some 20 locals and is exporting dried seaweed directly to China. “The current price here is very good, between RM4.70 to RM5 per kilogramme depending on the quality and there is huge demand for Sabah seaweed especially in China where the price can easily reach RM7 per kg,” he said --BERNAMA