Fruit orchard to be set up at KL Tower

An orchard planted with local fruit trees will soon be set up at the Kuala Lumpur Tower (KL Tower), aimed at bringing significant development by the first quarter of next year.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry secretary-general Datuk Hashim Abdullah said, although KL Tower was sited in the middle of the city, it was surrounded by jungle which was suitable for the planting of fruits.

"The area is very attractive and suitable. Orchards can only be found in villages, but now, we want to create one in the middle of a big city...something which has never been done before by any country," he said.

Hashim was speaking to reporters after launching the Mango Fiesta 2013@ KL Tower here Friday.

He said the ministry would send several experts to evaluate and propose fruit trees which were suitable after the KL Tower management had identified the site for the orchard.

No tree would be felled for the project, he said.

He said the orchard could add to the attraction of the KL Tower as a location for leisure activities for families.

In lauding the idea, KL Tower chief executive officer Datuk Zuraidah Mohd Said said the idea could boost the attractiveness of KL Tower among local and domestic tourists.

"We will discuss the matter as quickly as possible as a site of around 0.8-1.2 hectare is already available. The orchard will be built in stages but we expect the project will show results by the first quarter of next year," she said.

On the Mango Fiesta 2013, the programme which started today at the Malaysia Cultural Village, KL Tower until Sunday, from 10am to 6pm, she said it was aimed at boosting demand for mangoes.