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Kota Kinabalu: Sabah, already the nation's top producer of dairy milk, Crude Palm Oil and seafood, hopes to add mushroom to the list within five years when local production is expected to hit 500 metric tonnes annually. The competitive advantage Sabah has vis-a-vis other countries is that while they are only able to cultivate mushrooms during certain seasons, in Sabah they can be grown all year long.
Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail said Sabah imported about 152mt of mushrooms worth about RM1 million in 2005. It was an increase of 37 per cent compared to imports in 2004 which amounted to only 111mt, he said, adding that the figure will increase in the future. "However, with vast experience including expertise from the Rural Development Corporation (KPD) and DXN Holdings Sdn Bhd, the joint effort is capable of developing the mushroom industry in Sabah to a higher level," he said.
This would significantly reduce cash outflow on imported mushroom. He said current production of mushrooms in the State is only about 60mt a year. Following the signing of a joint-venture agreement between KPD and DXN Holdings at Wisma Pertanian, here, Thursday, he said production is expected to increase by 100mt annually and to 500mt in the next five years. The joint venture would start with cultivation of Shiitake mushroom and Ganoderma (medicinal mushroom) and subsequently other types of mushrooms that have high sale and market values. There are also plans set up a factory to process the mushrooms into other products.
The joint venture would also reduce poverty in rural areas. On Shiitake mushroom, he said the KPD produces between three and four metric tonnes a year, making them among the largest producers of the highly valued food item. But the production amount is still too small and not able to cater to local demand. Hence, Abdul Rahim said the corporation has decided to double the amount of its mushroom production in the next five years and turn it into one of Sabah's export items. "KPD's involvement in mushroom production with the cooperation of more than 100 farmers in Moyog and Kundasang has resulted in higher production the past two years," he said.
The weather in Kundasang coupled with the right type of soil makes the area suitable for mushroom cultivation, particularly the Shiitake variety. He said recent commercial interest in mushrooms is seeing the industry growing at a faster pace. The current market value for edible mushrooms is estimated at between US$28 billion and US$30b annually, medicinal mushrooms US$9-10b and wild mushrooms, US$3.5-4b. Abdul Rahim said several factors are behind the rise in demand for mushrooms in the world market, namely, growing awareness on eating healthy food among the people.
"Mushrooms have been proven to contain low energy levels, low purine levels, low glucose levels, low sodium levels, vitamins and minerals, among others which are good for health," he said. Apart from nutritional values, he said research also shows that several types of mushrooms contain medicinal properties. Abdul Rahim said the KPD would be inviting landowners in Kundasang to participate in its mushroom cultivation scheme on a contract-basis.
DXN Holdings Berhad Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Lim Siow Jin said products by the company were exported to 86 countries, including India, the Philippines, countries in Central Asia, the US and Mexico. "I have visited many places in Malaysia and find the place here most suitable to carry out tropical and temperate mushroom farming all-year round," he said. Also present were Assistant Minister Datuk Bobbey Suan, Assistant Minister Datuk Japlin Akim and DXN Holdings Berhad Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Dr Lim Siow Jin.
Source: Daily Express Sabah
Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail said Sabah imported about 152mt of mushrooms worth about RM1 million in 2005. It was an increase of 37 per cent compared to imports in 2004 which amounted to only 111mt, he said, adding that the figure will increase in the future. "However, with vast experience including expertise from the Rural Development Corporation (KPD) and DXN Holdings Sdn Bhd, the joint effort is capable of developing the mushroom industry in Sabah to a higher level," he said.
This would significantly reduce cash outflow on imported mushroom. He said current production of mushrooms in the State is only about 60mt a year. Following the signing of a joint-venture agreement between KPD and DXN Holdings at Wisma Pertanian, here, Thursday, he said production is expected to increase by 100mt annually and to 500mt in the next five years. The joint venture would start with cultivation of Shiitake mushroom and Ganoderma (medicinal mushroom) and subsequently other types of mushrooms that have high sale and market values. There are also plans set up a factory to process the mushrooms into other products.
The joint venture would also reduce poverty in rural areas. On Shiitake mushroom, he said the KPD produces between three and four metric tonnes a year, making them among the largest producers of the highly valued food item. But the production amount is still too small and not able to cater to local demand. Hence, Abdul Rahim said the corporation has decided to double the amount of its mushroom production in the next five years and turn it into one of Sabah's export items. "KPD's involvement in mushroom production with the cooperation of more than 100 farmers in Moyog and Kundasang has resulted in higher production the past two years," he said.
The weather in Kundasang coupled with the right type of soil makes the area suitable for mushroom cultivation, particularly the Shiitake variety. He said recent commercial interest in mushrooms is seeing the industry growing at a faster pace. The current market value for edible mushrooms is estimated at between US$28 billion and US$30b annually, medicinal mushrooms US$9-10b and wild mushrooms, US$3.5-4b. Abdul Rahim said several factors are behind the rise in demand for mushrooms in the world market, namely, growing awareness on eating healthy food among the people.
"Mushrooms have been proven to contain low energy levels, low purine levels, low glucose levels, low sodium levels, vitamins and minerals, among others which are good for health," he said. Apart from nutritional values, he said research also shows that several types of mushrooms contain medicinal properties. Abdul Rahim said the KPD would be inviting landowners in Kundasang to participate in its mushroom cultivation scheme on a contract-basis.
DXN Holdings Berhad Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Lim Siow Jin said products by the company were exported to 86 countries, including India, the Philippines, countries in Central Asia, the US and Mexico. "I have visited many places in Malaysia and find the place here most suitable to carry out tropical and temperate mushroom farming all-year round," he said. Also present were Assistant Minister Datuk Bobbey Suan, Assistant Minister Datuk Japlin Akim and DXN Holdings Berhad Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Dr Lim Siow Jin.
Source: Daily Express Sabah
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