Uggah (second left) and Nanta (first right) are on opposing tables as they discuss at the meeting.
KUCHING: Agriculture inputs such as fertiliser, pesticide and others ought to be placed under the Price Control Mechanism of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP).
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said this would make these agriculture input more affordable and would reduce the burden faced by farmers living in the interiors of Sarawak.
He made the suggestion to a KPDNHEP delegation led by its minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi who paid a courtesy call on him at his Wisma Bapa Malaysia today.
“At the moment, when such inputs reach the interiors, they cost much more due to transportation charges.
“If they are placed under the Price Control Mechanism, our farmers can enjoy the same price as in urban areas,” said Uggah, who is also the Minister of Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development.
Uggah also suggested that transporters engaged by the KPDNHEP in sending consumer goods to the interiors gave a helping hand to farmers there in transporting their produces to the urban markets.
“It is good if they can assist as after all the lorries will be empty on the return trip. Farmers can then save on the transport costs,” he said, adding he would be writing officially to KPDNHEP to seek its co-operation.
On a related matter, Uggah on behalf of Sarawak government said he welcomed the KPDNHEP’s coming programmes to promote local products and increase local consumption since this augured very well for the state.
He also thanked the state KPDNHEP director Datuk Stanley Tan, who was also present, for his efforts in ensuring the state had enough supplies of essential items during the recent Movement Control Order (MCO),
Meanwhile, Nanta in his speech said his ministry was ready to collaborate with Ministry of Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development (Manred) in promoting local products and in other pertinent matters.
He also said it had approved the setting up of KPDNHEP sub-offices in Betong and Serian to help in monitoring of prices of essential items and especially before any major celebrations like the Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, the Gawai Dayak or the Christmas.
Also present at the meeting were KPDNHEP chief secretary Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad, director-General of Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) Dato Roslan Mahayudin, a political secretary to the prime minister Lidam Assan and a political secretary to the chief minister Dr Richard Rapu.