Agro-tourism ultimate goal for fruit orchard

IN EFFORTS to contribute towards economic diversification, the Timbunan Rindu Farmers Association together with the Kampung Lugu and Kampung Katimahar Village Consultative Council aim to develop the Jalan Paya Teriti fruit orchard so that it can be a place to promote agro-tourism.

At the ceremony to plant Longan Intan and mangosteen trees, chairperson of the event, Hj Zainal Hj Safar, explained in his welcoming speech that the tree-planting project began in early 2010.

At that time, the tree-planting site was 10 acres big, Hj Zainal said. The Timbunan Rindu Farmers Association together with the Kampung Lugu and Kampung Katimahar Village Consultative Council aim to expand the size of the site to 100 acres, said Hj Zainal.

"When the project first started there were only 15 people involved. Now there are more than 50 participants," said Hj Zainal.

The Timbunan Rindu Farmers Association with the Kampung Lugu and Katimahar Village Consultative Council aim to turn the fruit orchard in Jalan Paya Teriti into a site for visiting where people can enjoy the beautiful scenery.

The site would also be a place where youth and senior citizens can find work and a means to obtain a side income, Hj Zainal said.

The fruits from the farm can be sold together with saplings of the Longan Intan tree and mangosteen tree, he added.

Commenting on the tree-planting ceremony, Hj Zainal explained that the event was to introduce and make known the fruit trees that grow in Mukim Sengkurong and the Longan Intan and Mangosteen trees have been chosen as the landmark of Kampung Katimahar and Kampung Lugu.

He said that the development of the fruit orchard in Jalan Kecil Paya was also to unite senior citizens living in the area.

"One of the activities which senior citizens can participate in is fishing and as part of the project, to show care towards the senior citizens, meals for breakfast and lunch will be prepared," said Hj Zainal.

The expansion of the fruit orchard will improve the ecological system of the area and turn the area into a site for agro-Tturism once the area has been developed as a centre for research on longan and mangosteen trees.

Present as the guest of honour at the tree-planting ceremony was Hj Jamain Momin, Brunei-Muara District Officer. Hj Jamain in his speech expressed hopes that more villagers from Kampung Lugu and Kampung Katimahar would involve themselves in the project.

He said that he is confident that the wish to turn the site into a place of leisure would be successful and that the fruit farm can contribute to agro-tourism with active participation of villagers.

Hj Jamain then said that the Brunei-Muara District Office will give support in development of the area. At the moment, the Brunei-Muara District Office along with other Village Consultative Councils from Kampung Belimbing Subok, Kampung Kapok and Kampung Jerudong are carrying out projects to develop the areas within the mentioned villages to promote agro-tourism.

Kampung Lugu and Kampung Katimahar will be among the villages involved in the Brunei-Muara District Office projects for development, so they can reach their target of wanting to be a tourist attraction in the near future, said Hj Jamain.

"Brunei-Muara District Office will help the marketing of fruits produced by local villages by organising fruit festivals in suitable areas," said Hj Jamain.

The guest of honour was invited to plant the seedlings of the Longan Intan and mangosteen plant.

The tree-planting ceremony took place at the Jalan Paya Teriti, Kampung Katimahar fruit orchard.The Brunei Times