KOTA KINABALU: Rustic Kiulu on the foothill of Mount Kinabalu is set to receive another 1,000 vanilla vines in October as efforts to expand vanilla cultivation and agrotourism in the area gather pace.
The upcoming distribution follows the first phase earlier this year, which saw 1,000 vanilla saplings distributed to residents and community-based tourism operators in the area, said Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
Bangkuai said he visited a vanilla plantation in Kinarut recently to look at vanilla cultivation and preparations for the second phase.
He said the programme is expected to include hands-on workshops, briefings on cultivation techniques and the distribution of another 1,000 vines to participating communities.
“The expansion is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Kiulu as a community-based tourism destination while creating more opportunities for the rural economy.
“The initiative also provides participants with practical training in farm management, as well as a buy-back arrangement under a contract farming model.”
Bangkuai, who is Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, said the vanilla initiative is also seen as having potential to complement Kiulu’s growing community-based tourism activities, with many of the participants already involved in tourism.
He noted that integrating farming and tourism could provide visitors with opportunities to experience vanilla cultivation while giving rural communities another source of income.
Bangkuai, who is also the Sabah Tourism Board chairman, said the response from the Kiulu community following the first phase had been encouraging.
