THE Modernisation of Agriculture Ministry will act on the strategic intervention areas as suggested by Head of State Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud in its efforts to transform Sarawak into a developed state by 2020.
They include encouraging more private sector investment, intensifying research and development in production technologies and product development including leveraging on agro-biodiversity, developing new markets for agriculture produce, intensifying collaboration with private sector, facilitating youth involvement in agro-industry businesses and increasing local food production.
Its minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu in his winding-up speech yesterday said under the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) Agriculture sector, the focus was on food production projects.
“The double and single-cropping paddy project at Batang Lupar in Sri Aman Division involves an area of about 5,100ha. The project area stretches from Entulang to Seduku along Batang Lupar and from Lingga to Banting along Sg Lingga.
“The project is estimated to cost RM950 million and will benefit 5,167 paddy farmers,” he added.
Jabu however reported that the construction of primary and secondary infrastructure was experiencing some delays.
“The tender contract for flood mitigation works at the Bijat-Stumbin portion has to be prematurely terminated early this year.
“The (federal) Ministry of Agriculture expects to call for fresh tender at the end of this month for the
completion of the work.
“Another tender for the construction of primary and secondary irrigation infrastructure is expected to be
called in June,” he said
On the anchor farming component of the project, Jabu said Bernas had cultivated a pilot farm within the project area during the 2011 season and managed to achieve paddy yields of between 3.5 and 3.8 tonnes of
paddy per hectare per season.
“For this year, Bernas has set a target of 200ha to develop as productive farm land,” he said.
The signing-on and buying-in of farmers in the Bijat-Stumbin area, Jabu added was already completed and the perimeter survey of the paddy area was in progress.
“A total of RM488,000 will be paid out to 449 farmers involved in the 224ha-project as incentive this year for their participation.
On the Bario Rice Industry Development Project, Jabu informed the august house that project construction had been completed on schedule in February this year.
“It involved the construction of drainage and irrigation facilities, farm roads, as well as post-harvest facilities including premises housing paddy dryers, rice mill and rice grading and packing equipment,” he said.
With the complement of the development phase, Jabu said the ministry would now focus on the production phase.
“This will involve making necessary preparations for the coming paddy season which will start in July.
“The plan is to put the 200ha project to achieve yield target of three metric tonnes per hectare per season when the crop is harvested in Jan and Feb next year,” he added.
Jabu also reported that the first attempt to grow Bario rice on 140ha during the previous season produced a yield of just over three tonnes per hectare.
“This preliminary result is an indication that the project will be able to achieve its objectives of increasing the supply of quality Bario rice as well as raising farmers’ income,” he said.