Its vice-chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Kamarudin Hussin said the method has been proven successful through research (R&D) projects carried out by the university at Sungai Chuchuh in Padang Besar, for the last four years.
“This pilot project which made use of organic fertilizers doubled the revenue gained from the traditional open cultivation and bore sweeter and better quality fruits, free of pesticides.
“In the greenhouses, we can control pests, temperature, weather and wind. These factors affect the quality of the fruits,” Kamarudin told reporters after visiting the project, Friday.
He said a greenhouse covering half an acre, which is sufficient to plant 217 trees, could be used for eight to 10 years and cost approximately RM200,000.
“With the use of proper techniques, entrepreneurs can expect to recover their investment in the third or fourth year,” said Kamarudin, adding that UniMAP was willing to share its experience with interested parties.
According to him, the 30 greenhouses built in Sungai Chuchuh have begun producing premium quality fruits for export to Korea and Japan where the fruits are in high demand.
“This project is an agricultural transformation, consistent with the government’s efforts in making Malaysia a developed and high-income nation,” he said.
In another development, Kamarudin said a group of UniMAP researchers have produced a byproduct derived from the skin and seeds of mangoes called ‘MeeGo’ which is low in calories and carbohydrates compared to the normal noodles.
He said MeeGo has higher fiber content as it contained 10 percent flour produced from the skins and seeds of Perlis Shunsine (Sala) and Harumanis mangoes.
“UniMAP is in the process of introducing MeeGo, with no dyes and preservatives used, as a replacement to pasta and noodles to the local market as well as to Japan and Korea,” said Kamarudin.
Noor Shazliana Aizee Abidin, MeeGo group research representative, said it took them five years of research to produce flour from the skins and seeds of mangoes.
“The anti-oxidant and high fiber contents in MeeGo have anticancer, antidiabetic and antiobesity properties,” she said, adding that the product was sold at RM4 per 230gram packet.
–BERNAMA
