Community eucalyptus
plantations will boost industry
JEMPOL: Cultivating Eucalyptus trees in community
plantations organised by t h e Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) and Malaysian Plywood M a n u f a c t u r e r s Association (MPMA) can increase t h e wood supply and boost Malaysia's timber industry.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin said t h e local community can, via Eucalyptus community plantations, utilise private land for t h e purpose and earn a good income.
She said for a start, t h e r e is a pilot project for t h e programme comprising 101.2 hectares (ha)/250 acres involving 78 villagers in Batu Kikir here.
"The community farming concept is already being practised abroad and should
be implemented in our country now.
"The initiative also boosts t h e f u r n i t u r e i n d u s t r y and t h e project can provide a good income to t h e community t h a t has land although it may be a small area," she told reporters after officiating at t h e Plus Intervest Sdn Bhd's c o m m u n i t y nursery and plantation.
MTC chairman Norrida Yusoff, MTC chief executive officer Muhtar Suhaili, MPMA chairman Datuk Sheikh O t h m a n Rahman and Plus Intervest Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Chua Hock Gee attended t h e event.
She said t h a t every 0.4 ha (one acre) can accommodate as m a n y as 600 Eycalyptus trees at RM200 per tree and it takes six years to yield a harvest.
"The organisers will rent t h e land for a period of six years at
RM300 per 0.4 ha and it is hoped t h a t this project can become t h e main source of raw materials for t h e timber industry in this country," she said.
According to Zuraida, every landowner who w a n t s to be involved in the programme will be given Eucalyptus saplings and t h e Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) will guide t h e m in t h e planting and caring process.
Eucalyptus leaves can also be processed into oil for traditional medicine.
She said t h e module will be developed by involving non- governmental organisations in order to find more local communities to participate in t h e programme.
"There are challenges from t h e d o w n s t r e a m side of the timber sector; if t h e r e are not enough
raw materials in t h e f o r m of timber, t h e n it will be difficult to meet t h e demand of buyers from abroad. On t h e 14-nation International Agri-commodity Tour I did this year, I f o u n d t h a t Malaysian wood products were well received because they are more durable and are competitively priced," she said.
She said quality wooden f u r n i t u r e products w i t h good w o r k m a n s h i p are able to attract foreign investors and buyers, and t h e market for wood-based products is a source of income for t h e country because Malaysia is now t h e world's eighth largest exporting country.
Zuraida said t h e timber industry recorded exports totalling RM13.2 billion in t h e first six m o n t h s of this year. — Bernama
