KUCHING: A working visit by the Sarawak Orchid Society (SARORSO) has brought into focus the development partnership with government agencies, associations and local communities in promoting orchid cultivation and downstream product manufacturing.
The visit, coordinated by the Patron of SARORSO Puan Dayang Norjihan followed with a courtesy call on YB Datuk Haji Len Talif Salleh, Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment who is also SARORSO Advisor.
While visiting the Orchid Garden and Orchid Laboratory at MRSM Kuching, the delegation made a stopover at SABAKI Farm in Kampung Tanjung Tuang, Samarahan.
In a speech Dayang Norjihan said that the visit was aimed for SARORSO to study on the operations of orchid nursery, alternative planting methods in oil palm and production of downstream product based on orchid including tea, chocolate and pickle. She said all these could create linkages for Sarawak’s orchid industry to penetrate the international market.
The visit to SABAKI Farm demonstrated the possibility of mixing orchid culture with other established agricultural practices, which presented farmers with fresh opportunities for diversification.
The project is part of Sarawak’s wider game plan to mix traditional farming with high-value niche products for a more resilient economy.
The delegation later went to MRSM Kuching where Datuk Len Talif Salleh was briefed on laboratory processes and visited the Orchid Botanical Garden.
The institution has a long tradition of involvement in orchid studies and education and students gain practical experience diagnosing disease problems, growing from seed and micropropagation techniques.
Afterwards was the Juma’ani In Vitro Orchid Micropropagation Programme, Certificate Presentation Ceremony to third-session students of MRSM Kuching. The officiating was conducted by Puan Dayang Norjihan who highlighted the need to develop orchid science amongst the young talent.
Also, present were SARORSO chairman Tengku Dr Hajah Auvaroza binti Tengku Abraham and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) staff, Deputy Principal of MRSM Kuching as well as other guests. Their presence symbolised a common encouragement for the development of orchid research and industry in Sarawak.
The working visit showed how collaborations between partnership of the government, association and school could further develop Sarawak’s potential of orchid industry for domestic as well as international markets.
With developments in production and diversification, the state plans to turn orchids into a way of life economically and culture wise without sacrificing the botanical angle.
