Sarawak to increase pitcher plant exports

KUCHING: Sarawak, home to more than one-quarter of the 90 nepenthes or pitcher plants found in the world, is increasing exports of the plant.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the state exported 22,000 units of tissue-cultured nepenthes to 35 countries last year, up from 15,000 in 2005 and 11,000 in 2004.

"Twenty-one of the 25 species of the pitcher plants which are native to Sarawak are offered for sale," he said in a speech to open a four-day nepenthes summit at the Sarawak Tourism Complex on Saturday.

Seven of the 90 recognised nepenthes species are only found in Sarawak.

Taib's text of speech was read by his deputy Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, also state Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture.

Twenty-one papers are being discussed at the event, which features an exhibition and a workshop on nepenthes cultivation.

Taib said the state started the propagation of nepenthes when a private tissue culture laboratory was set up 11 years ago.

"In Borneo, the nepenthes has been the focus of biological research and discovery for more than 150 years.

"The plant has also been an important part of the state's traditional culture since before recorded history, being used for folk medicine and cooking."

Taib said as Sarawak was one of the 12 "mega biodiversity hotspots" in the world, the government wanted the state to be recognised as a centre of excellence for research, especially on biodiversity conservation.

He said the state had over the years enacted several laws to protect and conserve its rich biological resources.