Association for Sacha Inchi growers will be formed
Published on: Saturday, January 22, 2022
By: Clarence Dol
Sacha Inchi fruit that is ripe and marketable (top) and Sacha Inchi farm which is run by Ratib.
KENINGAU: A Sabah Sacha Inchi Growers Association will be established to encourage more entrepreneurs to earn better income from the product.Sabah Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Datuk James Ratib, said the potential of Sacha Inci crops has been proven to generate income if cultivated in a committed and comprehensive manner.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said he was prepared to be the patron of the association to explore the market and establish processing plants for commercial purposes at the state, national and international levels.
“I am ready to be the patron of the association and as an intermediary to the Ministry to provide guidance and advanced courses to members of the association so that they better understand the techniques of cultivation and care as well as the correct legislation to produce quality products,” he said.
James said this during a visit to Julian Lian’s Sacha Inchi Estate in the Ulu Bunsit plantation area, Bingkor, Keningau, recently. There are about 1,200 Sacha Inchi trees about eight months old planted in the plantation.
However, he said, Sacha Inchi entrepreneurs in the state must meet a comprehensive certification scheme for the crop sector as stipulated in the terms and conditions of ‘Malaysia Good Agricultural Practice (myGAP).
ADVERTISEMENT
“There are seven elements of practice in myGAP to meet the standards set by the Ministry of Agriculture. It means that these plant operators have to comply with it as not all crops or seeds can be purchased or imported arbitrarily for local crops in the state,” stressed James.
James, who is also Sugut Assemblyman, said with the establishment of a Sacha Inchi growers association in the state, he is confident that Sabah had the potential to be a hub for producers of the product in the future.
ADVERTISEMENT
Among the Sacha Inchi crops found at Julian Lian Farm.
He said rural areas such as Keningau, Pensiangan and Paitan districts are among the suitable locations for the development of Sacha Inchi crops to encourage more villagers to venture into agriculture.
“If these associations are able to grow, of course, they can get various facilities from the government including suitable funds to expand their farms in the future,” he added.
James also welcomed the participation of the youths to cultivate the Sacha Inchi crop because this crop is relatively quick to produce fruits, which is only around six to eight months.
Facts about the nutritional value of this plant disclosed that this legume plant Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia Volubilis) originates from the Peruvian Amazon Forest and has long been cultivated and used thousands of years ago by the indigenous Inca community in Peru for its medicinal substance.
Sacha Inchi oil supplies high antioxidants that can help improve blood circulation in the body including the treatment of various chronic diseases including skin and hair health.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
