THE local rural communities could venture in the production of honey and coffee to help generate more incomes.
In his ministerial winding-up speech at yesterday’s DUN sitting, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah reiterated that the low-hanging fruit project could help boost
both the agricultural activities and development in the rural areas.
The project would involve encouraging residents of selected villages within the Highland Development Agency (HDA) area to be involved in and learn more about coffee planting and also the rearing of local stingless bees called ‘kelulut’.
To date, 20 villages have been selected for the project over the next five years where they would receive a free distribution of 10,000 ‘kelulut’ bee colonies to help them get started. Hands-on training from the Department of Agriculture Sarawak would also be provided to ensure that the beekeeping endeavours would be successful.
For coffee planting, Uggah said the department had already implemented 82 hectares of land involving 77 participants.
“For 2018 to 2020, a sum of RM8.4 million will be allocated to develop another 270 hectares for coffee planting on HDA area,” he added.
For the Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA) area, Uggah – also the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development – said its development priority would be similar to that of HAD – focusing on infrastructure, connectivity and economic generating activities.
Addressing the comments raised by Jefferson Jamit Unyat (BN-Bukit Goram) earlier about increasing agriculture activities within the URDA, Uggah assured him that his ministry would continue to implement various agriculture programmes and projects within the areas under the purview of the state Agriculture Department.
“For 2018, my ministry through the state Department of Agriculture will implement programmes and projects for URDA area such as agriculture diversification programme, fruits development programme, inland fisheries programme, livestock development programme, agro-based industry and home economic programme, as well as human capital development programme.
“The estimated allocation needed to implement these programmes is RM10.3 million, slated to benefit 1,633 families in this area,” he said.
Additionally, Uggah also responded to a question raised by Dennis Ngau (BN-Telang Usan) regarding the status of the Rural Growth Centre (RGC) in Long Lama.
“My ministry will continue with the implementation of Long Lama RGC as it is one of the growth nodes within the HAD area.
“For this purpose, preliminary works on site preparation for other infrastructure components will be carried out for the development in that area,” he said, adding that funding for the residential houses in the RGC would be obtained from the federal Rural and Regional Development Ministry .