Perak to stop development of highlands to minimise environmental damage

IPOH: The state government will not develop land in the highlands to minimise environmental damage caused by rampant development.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir said any form of agriculture or food production which is not controlled will also negatively impact the environment.
"The Sultan of Perak (Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah) had raised the matter and the state will heed his advice to maintain the natural beauty of the highlands," he said.
Zambry was speaking to reporters after the Sultan officiated the Collection, Processing and Packaging Centre (CPPC) managed by Agroto Business (M) Sdn Bhd at the Kinta Highlands here today.
Agroto was formed following a collaboration between the State Agriculture Development Corporation and Bumper Orchard (M) Sd Bhd.
The project is located on a 1,500m high agriculture land covering a 1,040ha area.
Currently the centre's operation totals an average of 50 metric tonnes of vegetables daily for the local and foreign market.
It is expected to increase the production to 200 metric tonnes a year or 6,000 metric tonnes monthly by using technology from Denmark and Italy in two years time.
Zambry also said the production from the highlands will help reduce the country's import of high quality greens like capsicum, lettuce and Japanese cucumber.