State government’s ultimate aim is to stop relying on external supplies
KUCHING: A centre to cultivate the seeds of tropical crops will be set up soon in Sungai Sebiew, Mile 11, Bintulu-Miri road, to pave the way for biotechnology and tissue culture.
THANK YOU: Jabu (centre) and Gao exchange mementos after the courtesy call. Also seen are Xie (second right), Teng (left) and Lai (right).
The government’s ultimate aim is to stop relying on external supplies.
This proposed project, which spans 100 hectares, will be a joint venture between the state Agriculture Department, state Farmers’ Organisation and China-based Guangdong Guangken Rubber Group Co Ltd.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang said the joint arrangement might last for between 25 and 30 years, and that the project cost had yet to be determined.
“It will be a good project because our farmers will benefit in a way that they get to cultivate their own crop seeds instead of asking from outsiders.
“We will allow China to bring in their scientists for seed cultivation, which will involve many types of vegetables and tropical crops,” he told the press after receiving a courtesy call from a 10-member delegation led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture of People’s Republic of China, Gao Hongbin, at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.
Jabu, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, said his Chinese counterpart was also keen to plant 10,000 hectares of high quality rubber trees in Betong and Saratok.
The key idea for this additional rubber plantation is to produce more quality raw materials for the processing factory which was commissioned in Betong in November last year.
“The Guangken Rubber Factory acknowledges all the rubber trees planted here as the best grade,” Jabu said, adding that all its outputs would be ranked as Standard Malaysia Rate (SMR) 20 — quality export item.
However, he said it would take the state authorities a relatively longer time to discuss and negotiate with many owners of native customary land (NCL) as the plantation land required was 10,000 hectares.
More importantly, they had to explain to the NCL holders the intention of the Chinese company and the benefits of developing their land for rubber plantations, he added.
Among those present were China’s Consul General in Kuching Xie Fugen, Assistant Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture (Food Industries) Datuk David Teng and board chairman of Guangdong Agribusiness Group Corporation-cum-director general of Bureau of Guangdong State Farms Lai Shiren.