MODERN AND COMMERCIAL FARMING: Salang plants a rubber tree to symbolically launch the mini estate as Uchong (right) and Ding (left) look on.
SIBU: Dayak farmers with land should explore the possibility of going into modern and commercial farming which has better prospects and potentials.
Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Culture Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said they could go into vegetables and fruit farming, besides rubber and oil palm.
He said rubber is currently the most lucrative crop because of its good market price and compared to oil palm, it was relatively easier and less expensive to manage.
He said this when addressing a pre-Gawai Dayak celebration last Sunday at the farm of Uchong Saiban, who is one of the area most enterprising and successful commercial farmer.
Uchong’s farm or U-Farm is located at Kilometer 5 of Kanowit-Julau-Durin Road.
Salang accompanied by Sarikei MP Ding Kuong Hiing had earlier launched his 40 hectares mini rubber estate.
Rubber Industry Smallholder Development Authority (Risda) had given him a grant of about RM13,500 per acre to develop the estate and so far, he and his son were maintaining about 20 hectares.
“Risda is happy to help those with titled lands to develop mini rubber estate.
“For those without titles to their lands, they may turn to Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra) for assistance in planting oil palm,” Salang said.
He said it would be very unfortunate if those native farmers with huge tracts of lands continue to remain poor and marginalised.
On Ding, he commended him for being a hardworking representative, not only for the Ibans and Chinese but also others in the contituency.
Salang urged the local voters to continue giving him their fullest support in the coming parliamentary election.