Rolland (third left) with Porkan (third right), Sylvester (fourth right ) and others on arrival at Rumah Lingoh.
PAKAN: Meluan assemblyman, Rolland Duat has proposed setting up a farm produce and fruits collecting centre near Julau to help local farmers market their produce.
Announcing his plan at ‘leader with the people’ gathering at Rumah Lingoh, Nanga Enkeranji, Entabai near here last Saturday, Rolland added that the proposed collecting centre is part of his plan to encourage farmers in Meluan to switch to commercial modern agriculture.
He said the farmers can upgrade their livelihood and income if they were to modernise their farming and venture into commercial agriculture.
The assemblyman noted that despite being blessed with ample fertile land, farmers here do not make much from their farms through their traditional farming methods.
Admitting that commercial agriculture requires huge capital, Rolland said this problem can be solved as many local and foreign companies are keen to go into joint-venture with the landowners.
“The government can help through the provision of infrastructure like road connectivity; communication service; electricity supply and treated water supply, but not much in providing capital. Hence, the only option is to encourage the landowners to strike a joint-venture deal with big companies,” he said.
However, he cautioned them to be vigilant in entering into any agreement to develop their land and advised them to check with relevant authorities on the back ground of companies making proposal to enter into any joint-venture.
Rolland also assured the farmers that the government will provide more facilities to help market agricultural produce in international markets.
He cited plans to set up a fruits collection centre in Betong and build an airstrip in Bukit Sadok to help farmers move their produce quickly to major airports.
During the function, Rolland presented a RM20,000 to Tuai Rumah Lingoh Runggah to cover the cost for construction of a gravity feed water supply system which he commissioned on arrival at the longhouse.
Rolland also announced a contribution of RM7,000 for the longhouse Women’s Bureau
Deputy Sarikei Resident, Abang Mohd Porkan Abang Budiman who also spoke at the function advised the people not to reject any development programme provided by the government.
He said, all projects planned or implemented by the government were aimed at improving the livelihood of the people.
The Deputy Resident added that implementation of projects like road, water supply, electricity supply and others involve acquisition of land, so he hoped the people would give their full co-operation even it meant that they had make sacrifices.
Special Affairs Department (Jasa) Liaison Officer for Julau Parliamentary constituency, Sylvester Embuas and several longhouse headmen from the area also spoke at the function.