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| Wasry Tarisin |
KUNDASANG:
Pomp and pageantry was the order of the day at the two days Cabbage
Festival held in Kundasang recently.
The
small township perched on a slope brooded over by Mount Kinabalu was
busy, packed with vehicles sporting plate numbers from all over the
country. The township was surrounded by stalls selling various items
including fashion wear, shoes, food and trinkets among others.
And of
course there were heaps of vegetables such as cabbages, tomatoes,
pumpkins and chili among many others.
Thousands
of people milled around, looking at the various display and
exhibitions in the town square as well as around it. The intermittent
rain and gusts of cold wind were not deterrents. In fact, visitors
and participants in the festival seemed to enjoy the cold atmosphere.
Event
Organising Chairman, Wasry Tarisin said the main thrusts of the event
which was to highlight farm produce and tourism products in Kundasang
were achieved through the participation of the farming community in
that area. The number of visitors, estimated to be about three
thousand, coming and going, made it a tremendous success.
“The
various types of vegetables available in the highland evoked
tremendous interest among the visitors,” he said.
According
to him, as in all festivals the event hoped to promote the area as
the main producer of highland vegetables ensuring that potential
buyers had an idea of where to acquire their supply.
“We
want to make sure that farmers are given the opportunity to advertise
and showcase their products through the festival,” he stressed.
On the
popular notions that the Highland vegetables in Kundasang were
tainted with pesticide, herbicides and chemical fertilisers, he said
that the farmers there were periodically accorded instructions
through talks given by the relevant authorities.
“I
believe that we are slowly but surely getting into better and more
environment friendly mode of farming,” he stated, adding that the
Cabbage Festival's exhibitions and display hoped to empathise on the
improvement.
Meanwhile,
event secretary Azridin Sulimat shared that the Agriculture
Innovation competition evoked tremendous participation, which augured
well for the farming community in the highland.
According
to him, several food production and farming innovations have been
forwarded for the competition but they were parred down and
shortlisted to include the most relevant and useful implements.
The
final five participants included a hill paddy planting instrument,
composting of vegetable waste, food condiment paste, Extracting Yacon
sugar and chili sauce.
“Their
working papers have been collected and they will be presented to an
innovation competition at the National level in West Malaysia,” he
said.
He
shared that the Cabbage Festival this year round which was officiated by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Datuk Yahya Hussin was not only to
gather farmers and celebrate, fostering friendship and rapport among
themselves.
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The Minister, with the State Assemblyman for Kundasang Datuk Joachim Gunsalam
(fourth left) and other officials with the recipients of the special recognition award. |
“This
festival also hoped to look at and scrutinize innovations that can
contribute to the farming community's development economically and
technologically.”
Four
individuals were later given recognition for being Kundasang's pride.
They were best farmer, Jadi Kinte, Best Young Entreprenuer Julaineh
Waimin, Best Woman Farmer Yasimeh Ratiman and special recognition for
Khamarul Azman Kowasin the World Champion of Performing Arts.-AG
