User:ElionaVH/sandbox

The Durian and Tropical Fruit Association (MaSDa)
The official formation of Masda (Making Sabah Durian Amazing) was formed at July 1st 2019. This association was formed under the pretext of leading farmers from past traditional farming to commercial farming. At the Beginning of the association, a group of different professions that have a common ground, in this case, Durian and other sort of tropical fruits decided to gather resources and data to help farmers in general to organize and distribute that produces via local and overseas. With a short meetings and seminars held by various occasion, the farmers decided that it is best time to form an association to handle such challenges.

Before MaSDa
For the longest time remember, farmer's produces are mainly sold to wholesalers, distributors, exporters, and various way in the private sectors. In the government side, FAMA and various bodies of government does help in sort of contract based farming and quota filling system to various departments need i.e the National Zoo (Taman Negara) usually is one of many department imported various fruits to help feed the zoo occupants.

In such times, many farmers found themselves under the impression that they are bound by the mercy of the wholesalers and distributors due to some logistics and volume issues, the prices of produces can be very volatile in the agriculture business. In the peak fruit season, many farmers face tough decision as prices can have sharp drop due to overflow in stock and quality control was out of hand. In some cases, fruits were left unattended due to the cost for picking it is higher than the selling price.

Other associations such as MFFA (Malaysia Fruits Farmers Association) also contributes in publishing the accomplishments and stories of farmers to help improve the values of farmers and its harvest. These associations are mainly based in the west Malaysia and Sabah were still young at its stage of development.

The initiatives
At one of the seminars, farmers have suggested to form the association to help them in various way:


 * 1) Organize a streamline of collection and selling point in various parts of Sabah.
 * 2) Arrange farmers produces in a coordinated planting and crop harvest.
 * 3) Help liaise with the local government for support.
 * 4) Seed Bank for future research and various disaster prevention.
 * 5) Tissue Culture and Bio-security on imported seedlings and fruits.
 * 6) A standard of procedure for ease of fruit export.
 * 7) A good agricultural practice (MyGAP) initiative for quality control.
 * 8) Downstream products research and developments.
 * 9) Seminars and Lectures regards to farming and proper techniques on agriculture practice.
 * 10) Youth programs to help younger generation to better understand modern agriculture.

A survey was passed around the farmers to conclude these were the few of many ideas to be implement should the association formed, thus after a short brief of meetings and contacts exchange, the process to register the official name of the association was set.

The formation of Sabah Durian and Tropical Fruit Association.
Also known as MasDA, as in "Making Sabah Durian Amazing", quoted by Johnny Ting, the elected vice president and one of the committee members of MasDA, have a short brief meeting with other key committee members, they have decided to register as an official association with the government. They formed the association with 15 key members and other official members to run the general operations of setting up seminars and functions for planters to involve and share their experiences. The association also invited guest and tutors from West Malaysia specialties in Durian plantation for farmers to gain programs and lectures regards to planting.

During the time of formation, the durian season was set to land on the August. Duane Evans and several committee members decide to joint cooperate with the Tenom Tourist Association (TTA) to run the 2018 Tenom Durian and Tropical Frutis Festival at the Tenom Coffee Valley.

The Tenom Durian and Tropical Fruits Festival (2018)

With the collaboration of TTA and MasDa with the Tenom District officers, the group manage to get several sponsors such as the fertilizers and chemical suppliers, the government departments (MAFI, Pertanian, Taman Pertanian Tenom, Hospital, Police) and other related departments from the Keningau district.

In terms of markerting, Facebooks and Radio station were helping in promotion and the TTA members help in interviews and ticket bookings from international customers.

At the 12th of August 2018, the Festival was held at Tenom Coffee Valley for 3 days over the weekend. The festival also held out some programs for farmers and interested suppliers to display their products and various tourist were keen to visit the special buffet section that was organized by the MasDa association to promote Durian. Newsletter and media reported that around 1 to 8 tonnes of durian were sold during the event but sources were vary due to other involvement from other vendors and locals. The event also gives various talks regards to farm techniques and experiences. Other than durian, various tropical fruits such as mangosteen, Pomelo, and etc were found at the festival as it promotes the highlighted fruit from Tenom district. Seedlings were also sold that day as the program included some techniques for new farmers to start their own.

Category:Farmers Category:Agriculture Category:Plants Category:Assosciation Category:Community