KUCHING: Sarawak's Forest Department will develop an orchid garden to conduct research on the potential of local species for commercial cultivation.
The state's Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he was allocating RM5mil to the department for initial funding of the garden.
He said Borneo orchids were unique and could potentially be produced for export.
"Perhaps we can even cross-breed our orchid species, but this (requires) research.
"So I would like the Forest Department to set up the orchid garden for research purposes," he told reporters after launching the state's International Day of Forests celebration at the Industrial Forest Research Centre here on Tuesday (June 28).
Abang Johari said a suitable site for the garden would be identified near the Semenggoh Nature Reserve.
He said it would serve as a research complex for the Forest Department as well as the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre.
"Through the research, we can calculate the economic viability of orchids, so that our farmers can consider growing orchids too.
"The flower industry is huge in the world so perhaps we can also export orchids," he said.
