BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

TEN gaharu seedlings, donated by Gaharu Berjaya Resources to educate the public on the importance of the tree that is highly valued for its fragrance, were planted at the compound of Masjid Pengiran Muda Abdul Malik yesterday.

Hj Mohd Ali Hj Dollah, managing director of Gaharu Berjaya Resources, said the company’s contribution was part of its project to raise awareness about gaharu in the Sultanate.

“This is our first contribution to this mosque and we have carried out similar projects around the country, including government buildings,” he said, adding that the tree will be ready for inoculation in the next two or three years.

Inoculation involves injecting vaccines containing bacteria into the tree that would react with the tree to produce gaharu oil or resin.

He added that income or sales derived from the trees, once harvested, will go directly to the mosque fund.

The company has been in the gaharu industry with its plantation in Kg Bengkurong since 2010.

“The gaharu species that we have in our plantation are for research and development. Currently, there are two phases of gaharu planting,” he said.

The first phase includes the introduction and planting of agarwood trees in the Sultanate while the second phase is the inoculation of planted trees.

Gaharu resin is used to manufacture oils, perfumes, soaps and lotions.

The young leaves of the agarwood can also be collected and used as tea six months later.

Present to plant one of the seedlings was Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Hj Tahamit Hj Nudin, who is also penghulu of Mukim Gadong A.

The Brunei Times