Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei aims to supply 60 per cent of the gaharu (sandalwood) global demand to become its biggest producer, with local company Gaharu Berjaya Resources (GaharuBrunei) targetting to plant and harvest one million trees over seven years.
Hj Mohamad Ali Hj Dollah (L), Gaharu Berjaya Resources Managing Director and Acting Rector Unissa, Pg Anak Dr Hj Amiruddin Alam Shah Pg Anak Hj Ismail (R) planting the gaharu seedling at Unissa's coumpound yesterday. In an interview with The Brunei Times on the sidelines of a hand-over of gaharu trees to the Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (Unissa) yesterday, Hj Mohamad Ali Hj Dollah, GaharuBrunei managing director, said that the local company is actively promoting the commercialisation of the tree in all four districts of the Sultanate.
The tree's resin is used to manufacture oils, lotions or soaps. Young gaharu leaves can also be collected after a year and a half and turned to green tea. The product enjoys high demand in the Middle East, Taiwan and Japan.
"If our neighbour, Singapore, can gain US$1.2 billion a year (from this) despite the fact that they obtained the raw materials from outside and with the limited land, GaharuBrunei (has) the mission and vision to improve and increase the standard gaharu production in Brunei and South East Asia," Hj Mohamad Ali said.
The country' s land is suitable for planting gaharu trees, and the company has already planted 9,500 trees since February, he said.
However, "we have not been able to cater (to) all the demands".
"From 50 years ago, Asean countries can only supply 15 per cent of the total demand. (This is because) we do not have the product," said Hj Mohamad Ali.
He said that GaharuBrunei has been researching on the potential of the species for five years.
"In the past, we had to wait 50 to 80 years to reap the products but with current technology we can produce a good income in five to seven years."
According to the elders, gaharu trees have been a major source of income in Brunei before the Sultanate's oil and gas industry was developed, the GaharuBrunei executive said.
He added that he hoped Bruneians would start planting the tree around their houses as well as in abandoned private lands.
The purchasing price of One tree costs about $500 to $800, whereas the seedlings are priced at $15 each.
As gaharu trees are endangered species and protected by the government, Hj Mohamad Ali said the company is liaising with Forestry Department and the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, under the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, with regard to designated plantation areas.
Written by Rasidah HAB