KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) hasentered into a joint venture with the Beijing Forest Bureau to make atrial usage of a biomass product, Ecomat, in Beijing desert to preventsandstorms.According to Primary Industries Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, theecomat fibre-mat is obtained from empty fruit bunches of the oil palm.

Ecomats are durable and long lasting, usually about one year, as they arenot easily dislodged by adverse weather conditions.

The mats can be used in the growing of palm, rubber and numerous fruittrees, including durian trees.

Dr Lim said that the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment wasexpected to fund about RM1.5 million for the project.

"The total funding for the project is expected to be around RM2 to RM3million. The Science Ministry would contribute about RM1.5 million and theremainder to come from Beijing Forest Bureau," he said.

The trial, would run over a three-year period, he told reporters afterwitnessing the signing of the agreement between MPOB and the BeijingForest Bureau on trial usage of oil palm based fibre mat in sandstormareas in the outskirt of Beijing.

MPOB was represented by its director general, Datuk Dr Yusof Basiron,while the Beijing Forest Bureau by its deputy director, Gan Jing. --BERNAMA