Pursuing a fruitful venture

Teow addressing the crowd during the Group’s 9th anniversary celebration at SPICE Arena in Relau.

THE MBI International Group has planned to grow vegetables and fruits in Kulim, Kedah, turning it into another Cameron Highlands which is famous for its vegetable farms.

Its founder Tedy Teow said the move was vital in view of the growing population.

“Food security is an issue as we foresee there won’t be enough food to meet the demand judging by the fast growing population.

“Many people may feel our plan is absurd.

“But I don’t think so because we have started it,” he told reporters during the 9th anniversary celebration of the Group at the SPICE Arena in Relau recently.

Teow said there were lands in Kedah, with about 40 plots in Kulim that had yet to be developed.

He said the Group intends to take up about 30,000 acres (12,140ha) of undeveloped lands to launch agricultural activities.

“It will be some sort of economic sharing.

“We will work together with the locals, especially those with lands.

“They don’t have to fork out any capital investment. They just have to provide us with the lands.

“We will work out something from there, from farming to providing them with proper irrigation and drainage system using heavy machineries.

“We will start in Kulim before taking it to the entire northern region,” he said.

Besides conducting wholesale business of fruits and vegetables, Teow said the Group would also carry out online selling so that the public could purchase fresh and quality produce at cheaper price.

He said the company would provide a one-stop service ifthey succeed in expanding the business.

On another matter, Teow said the Group also owns a durian orchard.

He said they would develop another piece of land in Kulim, turning about 7,000 acres (2,833ha) into durian orchards.

“For the time being, we will not export the fruits.

“We believe our involvement in this business would not affect the local durian market, but open up more opportunities for the people to savour durian throughout the year,” he added.