Rosey (front, seventh right) is shown a plant grown by fertigation, as programme participants look on.
MIRI: Nearly RM1 million worth of agricultural projects have been channelled through the state Agriculture Department last year to benefit residents of longhouses and villages in Bekenu constituency.
Assistant Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus said the projects comprised fertigation, the growing of corn, watermelon, herbs, pineapples and musang king durians, as well as the rearing of stingless bees (kelulut).
“It’s the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government’s initiative to further boost the family income of people living in rural areas especially in longhouses and villages,” she said after handing over an agriculture project at Kampung Kelulit in Bekenu yesterday.
According to Rosey, 53 rural folks had participated in fertigation projects worth RM468,000 last year; two in projects worth RM10,000 to grow corn; and five in projects worth RM25,000 to grow watermelons.
“Seventeen participated in the herbs projects, which were worth RM85,000 while 12 others took part in kelulut projects worth RM81,000.
“Two participated in pineapple-planting project worth RM2,700 while 2,364 participants planted musang king durians in projects worth RM328,300,” she said.
She hoped more projects will be lined up by the agriculture department and other related agencies to help create more rural entrepreneurs in agriculture or agrotourism.
Bekenu has vast fertile land suitable for farming and animal husbandry for northern Sarawak to become an agricultural hub, she pointed out.