Mardi may extend mengkudu processing technology to Sabah

KOTA KINABALU : The Malaysian Research Development Institute (Mardi) may consider extending mengkudu processing technology to Sabah if the project in Peninsular Malaysia is successful.

Sabah Mardi Director Haji Abdul Rahman Daud said the mengkudu fruit has a vast potential to be developed for commercial purposes once there is general awareness of a lucrative market for the by-products.

According to him, most people nowadays were presently unaware of the fruit’s commercial potential apart from being a traditional cure.

Mengkudu trees are common in Sabah, particularly in the coastal regions of the- West Coast, and mostly growing wild.

He believed that the plant could be grown in abundance to meet processing demand if properly cultivated.

Last month, Mardi was reported to have embarked on the production of the mengkudu juice for the local market, made available at a cheaper price that the imported Tahitian Morinda Noni juice.

The Polynesian mengkudu has similar features as its local cousin, but with a lucrative market worldwide, fetching at least RM200 per bottle in Malaysia.

Apart than mengkudu, Sabah also has a vast potential in the commercial processing of other local fruits, including jackfruits, soursops, bananas and pineapples that are easily grown locally, Abdul Rahman said.

However, there must be sufficient interest among local farmers in fruit cultivation if Sabah aspires to embark on commercial fruit processing ventures, he added.

According to him, the State has abundant fertile land for fruit cultivation to meet processing demand, either on individual lands or commercial plantations.

Before a processing plant could be set up, the investors must be assured of sufficient, regular supplies before a venture could be considered viable.

Citing an example, he noted that Sabah had been successful producing passion fruit (markisa) but was hampered by short supply.

Without proper planning of the mengkudu juice production, a similar shortcoming could be expected, he said.

Presently, Sabah Mardi is waiting for the results of the latest development in further studies on mengkudu juice towards improving quality production before concrete suggestions could be made to consider the viability of the project in the State, he added.

Source : Nashir Mansor, Daily Express, 12.8.99