A study visit to Black Pepper Farm with a view to collaboration

30 August 2024

KOTA BELUD: A visit and study were conducted in Kg. Lompios to observe and interview the local community regarding their practices in black pepper cultivation and the processing of pepper products at the Black Pepper Processing Centre.

Leading this visit was Professor Dr. Daniel J. Lang, a distinguished expert in Transdisciplinary and Real-Lab World Study from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, accompanied by Nina Maria Frölich, a researcher from the same institute, Mohamad Nik Syazne Nik Ezanee from University Sabah Malaysia, and Shaffiq Mizwar from the same university.

Guiding and providing valuable insights to the group was the Chairman of the Lompios Tamu Cooperative Kota Belud Berhad (KOTAMU). The group was taken to the black pepper plantation of Mandai, boasting over 1,000 pepper plants. Subsequently, they were given a tour of the black pepper processing plant.

Following this, the group visited the KOTAMU Eco-Tourism site in Kg. Lompios, where they were able to appreciate the natural beauty of the river and indulge in sampling local fruits.

The primary objective of this visit and study was to explore potential collaborations between the university representatives and the Kg. Lompios community, fostering mutual learning and development opportunities.