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| Going Bananas |
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| A banana a day, keeps the doctor away? Hardly. Or at least not if we are talking about Datuk Dr. Zainuddin Wazir. Dr. Zainuddin has been a medical doctor who has served the Government for 16 years, before diversifying his investments by continuing his practice as a heart surgeon, while establishing the production of Cavendish bananas through the company Synergy Farm under his branding flagship, Tropicoast. Tropicoast Bananas are one of only two companies which produce the fruit locally. |
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Speaking on his choice of the banana plant for commercialization, Dr. Zainuddin explains that this was upon the advice of FAMA (Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority). However, it is also given that his choice is also related to the fact that “bananas are one of the best sources of potassium, which is essential for maintaining normal blood pressure and proper heart function.” |
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Datuk Dr. Zainuddin |
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| Why Cavendish? According to the Head of Tissue Culture Lab, Mr. Mohd. Azad bin Mohd Azzam, Cavendish is superior to many common banana species in its high production rate of 30-60kg in contrast to local species. It is also known to be the only exportable banana species in the world, and is highly sought after by the local food industry, which the country is not capable of supplying. The Cavendish cultivar became the most widely cultivated banana after Panama disease attacked the dominant Gros Michel variety in the 1950's. |
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Plant
tissue culture, also known as micropropogation, is a method used to
reproduce plants, typically clones, under sterile conditions. This technique
offers certain advantages over traditional methods, including production
of clonal copies with desirable traits, production of disease free plants
and the ability to reproduce low germinating plants. The Tissue Culture
Lab, as its name implies, create plantlets using tissue culture practices
for the company, and is currently focusing its efforts on Cavendish
bananas. The mother plant was sourced from a high-yield variety originating
from China and currently, the lab is capable of producing 20,000 plantlets
per month, while plans are being made to increase production.
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Tropicoast also currently is starting its franchise marketing scheme which the company provides all the basic necessities for farmers to begin a Cavendish banana plantation, including tissue culture plantlets. The scheme has participants all over the country and enjoys solid support from state governments. The company also buys back the crops 100% from them, to be exported, as there is a large demand for the popular fruit overseas as well. However, this does not mean that Dr. Zainuddin has given up his day job as a heart surgeon. He currently serves as a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Penang’s Island Hospital, while also being involved in medical tourism at Synergy Healthcare Sdn. Bhd. “I know my farm is in good hands. That is why I have not had to quit heart surgery. I am now a consultant cardio-thoracic surgeon with Island Hospital in Penang, which gives me the extra time I want for other interests,” he shares. |
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So,
what are the plans for the Tissue Culture Lab? According to Mr. Mohd.
Azad, the laboratory is currently investigating better strains of Cavendish
bananas suited for our tropical climates. Similarly, there are plans
to introduce other local bananas for tissue culture, as well as optimizing
the methods for commercial production. Production-wise, the lab will
be aiming to reach a production rate of 100,000 plantlets per month
so as to meet the requirements of the fledging industry. Probably, one
day, Malaysia could manage to be a player in banana exportation. |
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For more information on Tropicoast, please click here |
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| By K. C. Liew for MABIC | ||||||||||||
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