Uggah (third right) admiring a crawfish produced at the Semenggok Inland Fishery Station. Also seen are (from left) Gluma and Chai as well as Richard (right).
KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has urged permanent food production park (TKPM) agropreneurs to develop their plots by themselves.
“Agropreneurs in the state who have been given the opportunity to do their farming in any TKPM must develop their plots (by) themselves.They should not sublet or subcontract them to others,” said Uggah who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development after visiting the Semenggok TKPM here today.
Uggah warned that those found subcontracting their plots to others would risk having their farming rights withdrawn.
He also said that action would be taken against those found to be not serious in developing their plots.
“The core objective of these parks is to produce food in specially dedicated areas. The objective must be upheld and enhanced,” he said.
According to Uggah, there are now 12 of such parks in Sarawak and steps would be taken to improve them in terms of infrastructure to make them more conducive to their purpose.
“Based on my visit to Semenggok, there are issues that need to be rectified. I am sure these (issues) also apply to the other parks.”
“I have directed the Agriculture Department to look into them and to ensure there are sufficient resources for their maintenance. I also want the department to ensure the selected agropreneurs carry out their programmes properly,” he said.
Uggah visiting a plot planted with ‘kacang bendi’ belonging to Alan Wei Hua Fong at the Semenggok TKPM.
On the other hand, Uggah was glad to note that the Semenggok park, covering an area of 52 hectares, had attracted young agropreneurs.
“Today I met three of them who are below 35 years old. They are among the 10 participants there. This is very encouraging,” he said.
Later, Uggah also visited the Agriculture Department’s Semenggok Inland Fishery Research Station.
“I have directed the station to focus on research (and production) on ornamental fish. There are big markets overseas and in particular I want them to look at some of the beautiful native species that we have like the arowana,” he said.
Uggah said an incubator would be set up there to develop potential exporters.
Among those present during the visit were Sarawak Agriculture Department Director Dr Alvin Chai, political secretary to the chief minister Dr Richard Rapu and Dr Gluma Saban from the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development.