Association president Ipoi Datan (fourth left) presents a memento to Baru.
LAWAS: The federal government is planning to develop Ba Kelalan into a new organic production district.
Works Minister Baru Bian, who is Ba Kelalan assemblyman, said Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry representatives recently visited his coffee and pineapple farms there and were impressed by the produce.
“Turning Ba Kelalan into an organic producing district not only means the organic standard is up to those of Sarawak or Malaysian standards, but also the world standard.
“Meaning to say, whatever we produce and mark as organic, either vegetables, fruits, or it could be cattle, we can sell it anywhere in the world,” Baru said during a Sarawak Lun Bawang Association dinner here recently.
He reminded Limbang and Lawas folk to prepare their land and villages for future developments.
“The state government has also declared that Limbang and Lawas will be focusing on beef or cattle rearing.
“The Agriculture Department can help you in these areas. This is another thing that I can see with big potential for our people,” he said.
“We should prepare ourselves for future developments, including tourism by preparing our homestays and agro-tourism as in planting of crops. We are looking at certain areas to be promoted as suitable for planting of certain kinds of products.”
Baru pledged to assist and guide the people on how best to prepare for the future developments.
“I can see our areas being well-developed starting in two or three years’ time,” he said and urged association members to form various committees to focus on development areas to assist the community.