Jabu presents combine harvester to Bario rice farmers
Posted on January 21, 2012, Saturday
KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu presented a combine harvester to folk of Kampung Bario Asal recently.
According to a press release from the Information Department, the Korean made machinery costs about RM110,000 per unit and can harvest four to five acres of land a day.
Modernisation Agriculture Ministry and Syarikat Ceria Bario Sdn Bhd as well as State Farm Organisation (PPNS) believed that with the harvester, villagers in Bario would increase their productivity in paddy planting.
According to Jabu, the climate in high land is suitable to plant ‘Bario rice’ which is famous for its quality and delicacy, having won the ‘International Presidia Award’ from the ‘Slow Food Foundation of Italy’ in 2002.
The harvest machine was introduced to the Bario villagers last year and it received encouraging response from farmers.
As such, Ceria Bario company also introduced several modern planting methods such as how to prepare rice seedlings nursery, effective water system, and usage of organic and non-organic fertilizers, as well as effective pest and disease control.
Jabu said he hoped with the combine harvester and the services provided by private sector as well as Agriculture Department, Bario’s villagers would be able to increase production, and at the same to earn more income to improve their living standard.
He urged farmers to be open minded in accepting modern agriculture.
“The government through Agriculture Department and other government agencies and Rurum Kelabit Sarawak are ever ready to help villagers in Bario to develop rice planting for their own benefit,” he said.
