Community Farming to ease shortage of timber raw material

KUALA LUMPUR (8 SEPTEMBER 2022): The Minister of Plantation Industries and
Commodities (MPIC), YB Datuk Hajah Zuraida Kamaruddin launched the Nursery and
Community Farming programme at Plus Intervest Sdn. Bhd. in Batu Kikir, Negeri
Sembilan, today.

The programme was organised by the Malaysian Panel-Products Manufacturers’
Association (MPMA) in collaboration with the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC), the
Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB), Plus Intervest Sdn. Bhd., the Forest Research
Institute Malaysia (FRIM), and the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (FDPM).

The community farming programme was mooted to address raw material shortages in the timber industry with the planting of fast-growing timber species on idle land belonging to.villagers.

Datuk Hajah Zuraida said, species such as Eucalyptus and Albizia will be planted as they
are good sources of raw materials for plywood and panel production.

This project will also reduce the dependency on natural forests while greening the villages. She added that the community farming project will also serve as flood mitigation since more trees will be planted and this in turn will increase water infiltration.

MTC Chairman Hajah Norrida Yusoff, MTIB Director General Mr. Kamaruzaman Othman,
MTC Chief Executive Officer Mr. Muhtar Suhaili, MPMA Chairman Datuk Wira Sheikh
Othman Rahman, Plus Intervest Sdn. Bhd. Managing Director and MTC’s Board of
Trustees Datuk Chua Hock Gee, as well as other timber industry members, attended the
ceremony.

Additionally, FRIM Deputy Director General Dr. Norwati Muhammad, representatives
from MPIC, the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) and other stakeholders
were also present together with the community from Batu Kikir.