KOTA KINABALU: Anyone can be a farmer, even if it means planting crops in your backyard, according to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
CHIEF Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman flanked by Yahya (left) and Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen Day Organising Committee Chairman Datuk Ujang Sulani (third left) holding a turmeric during a visit to one of the booth yesterday.
He said one could plant bananas or vegetables or any type of crops just behind the house to save daily expenditures.
“Everybody is doing it, it helps,” he said when launching the state-level Farmers, Fishermen and Livestock Breeders Day celebration at the Rural Development Cooperative tamu ground here yesterday.
He also encourages more youths, especially fresh graduates, to venture into agriculture to speed up the country’s economic growth.
Musa said youths should grab opportunities by the government to develop the agricultural sector into a commercial and modern industry that could provide a higher income to entrepreneurs.
“I would also like to encourage agencies and departments to formulate a selection and monitoring mechanism so that only potential farmers, fishermen and livestock breeders are given priority to enjoy the opportunities under the Tenth Malaysia Plan.
“To realise this aspiration, I was made to understand that the whole nation needs an accumulated allocation of RM22 billion within the next 10 years, of which about 62 per cent would come from the private sector. But I am confident that with the collaboration from all, we will be able to make agriculture the main contributor to realise the country’s aim of becoming a high income nation by 2020,” he said.
“We in Sabah will exploit potential fields such as aquaculture, livestock and other products. We will also enhance our paddy production to be sufficient in the future.
“Under the 10MP, both the federal and state governments will be working closely together to encourage the public to venture into farming, fishing and livestock breeding,” he said.
Musa believes that the theme, “Agriculture is Business”, is aptly chosen as he sees the potential in the sector to grow to greater heights.
Meanwhile, Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin said efforts are undertaken to improve the living standard of the people in Sabah.
“No one can deny that the contribution of all farmers, fishermen and livestock breeders in the state economic development, especially in producing food and agriculture based products, is important,” he said.
Yahya said the recent implementation of the Economic Transformation Programme promises business opportunities which can be grabbed by farmers, fishermen and livestock breeders.
“Agriculture is part of the 12 National Key Economic Areas. So with this in mind, we must grab the available opportunities while helping to improve the quality of our products,” he said.