Tamparuli project paves way for sustainable development

TAMPARULI (Oct 25): Chairman of the BIMP-EAGA Business Council and Chief Executive Officer of Allyssa Certification Sdn Bhd, Dr Raymond Alfred, today announced the launch of the Tamparuli Community Mushroom Agro-Industry Project.

It is an initiative designed to empower rural and indigenous communities through sustainable agro-based entrepreneurship and capacity-building.

The project “Rural Economic Transformation Through Mushroom Agropreneurship & Green Skills Training”, which has received funding of RM40,000 under the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG) through the Society for the Promotion of SDG, will be implemented over a three-month period.

It focuses on community empowerment — integrating innovation, inclusion and sustainability to create lasting economic impact across the Tamparuli region.

Dr Raymond expressed his sincere appreciation to Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau, whose continuous support through APPGM-SDG and the Society for the Promotion of SDG has been instrumental in realising this initiative.

“This initiative marks a significant milestone in empowering rural Sabahans through sustainable innovation. The APPGM-SDG’s support has enabled us to introduce a model that combines modern agricultural techniques, environmental stewardship, and community entrepreneurship,” said Dr Raymond.

“We are creating opportunities for local communities to build economic resilience, reduce poverty, and actively participate in the green economy.”

The project is implemented in collaboration with Nurfirdaus Mushroom Village, led by Drs Jaffrin Singkod, a pioneer in sustainable mushroom cultivation in Sabah. Technical support and certification frameworks are provided by Allyssa Certification while research and innovation input are contributed by Prof Dr Rayner Alfred from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

Project coordination is overseen by Project Secretary Chelsea Drew Balanting, together with June Gerald, ensuring efficient implementation, training facilitation, and community engagement.

The Tamparuli Community Mushroom Agro-Industry Project is designed to build long-term socio-economic capacity among rural communities through a series of structured training and demonstration programmes. Key deliverables include:
• Training 15-20 rural participants in sustainable mushroom cultivation and management.
• Establishing Kg Rongolis as a Community Green-Blue Training Centre for agro-innovation.
• Forming the Tamparuli Agro-Community Mushroom Network to strengthen cooperative business models. • Producing high-nutrition exotic mushrooms as community-based economic products.
• Laying the groundwork for a Borneo Mushroom Hub under the BIMP-EAGA regional cooperation framework.

“Our goal is to transform Tamparuli into a model of sustainable rural agro-industry for Sabah and Borneo — a community-driven ecosystem that integrates knowledge, technology, and market access,” Dr Raymond added. “This is more than an agricultural project; it is a platform for social inclusion, innovation, and sustainable economic transformation.”

The project aims to create a self-sustaining rural enterprise model through:
• Establishment of a Community Green-Blue Training Centre within the Tamparuli District (Rongolis, Topokon) as a permanent centre for learning and innovation.
• Development of a network of agro-community entrepreneurs across Tamparuli.
• Ongoing technical and certification support from Allyssa Certification and Nurfirdaus Mushroom Village. • Integration with local and regional markets under the BIMP-EAGA framework to ensure continuous demand and income generation.

After the initial three-month APPGM-SDG funding period, the project will transition into a social enterprise model, managed collectively by trained community members through cooperatives or micro-enterprise groups. Revenue generated from mushroom production and value-added products will be reinvested into the training centre to sustain future activities, purchase raw materials, and fund advanced training programmes.