UniSZA’s Musang King Project Begins Yielding Premium-quality Harvest

JERTIH, June 15 (Bernama) -- The Musang King Durian Plot Development programme undertaken by Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) since 2018 at its Pasir Akar orchard in Hulu Besut here is now beginning to yield lucrative returns. 

UniSZA agriculture officer Mohd Rohaizad Md Rejab said 45 out of the 207 premium-variety durian trees planted on the 1.2-hectare orchard are now producing high-quality fruit in abundance. 

“The trees were propagated through grafting techniques using selected parent stock by the university’s Farm Management Centre (PPL). 

“The use of rootstock from hardy durian varieties is among the key factors in ensuring the plants’ resilience against diseases and pests, while also helping to develop a stronger root system,” he told Bernama here today. 

He added that to ensure a high survival rate, the planting process was carried out in phases according to weather suitability and farm conditions.

Mohd Rohaizad said the achievement not only demonstrated the efficiency of farm management by PPL personnel but also highlighted the potential of the UniSZA orchard as a reference centre for premium durian cultivation on a commercial scale. 

“This plot is expected to become a sustainable long-term income source for the university, while supporting the technology transfer agenda and development of modern, high-impact agriculture for the community and national agri-food industry. 

“This success also reflects UniSZA’s commitment to strengthening innovation-based agriculture and best practices, in line with the university’s aspiration to be a leader in academic excellence and sustainable development,” he said. 

-- BERNAMA