Dr Annuar (front, fifth right) joins Jenattan (front, second right) and AFF project participants in a group photo at the MUC Hall in Sibu.
SIBU: A mechanism has been put in place to oversee the Agriculture Facilitation Fund (AFF) project for Nangka state constituency to ensure that it would not end up becoming a ‘white elephant’, assures Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Dr Annuar Rapaee.
He added that the Agriculture Department would closely monitor the progress of every participant of the project.
“The relevant parties such as those distributing the materials (to the participants), selected by the department, would also help monitor the participants’ progress, in addition to providing guidance to them,” he told reporters when met after presenting AFF totalling RM1 million to 53 participants yesterday.
The event, which took place at the MUC Hall here, was jointly hosted by the Nangka State Constituency Service Centre and Sibu Agriculture Department.
Dr Annuar, who is Nangka assemblyman, pointed out that the AFF project was transparent and the implementation was based on an open tender, where the tender board was chaired by Sibu Resident.
“I am not on the tender board,” said Dr Annuar.
On selection of AFF project participants, he said the process was run under the Agriculture Department according to certain criteria.
“We do not want participants who would quit halfway through the project. We want those who are serious to see it through and strive to ensure that their efforts would bear fruit.
“This is a long-term project – you cannot expect to reap the fruit of labour overnight,” he pointed out.
Still on the AFF, Dr Annuar said from the 53 participants, 31 were involved in fertigation farming, 15 in baby corn cultivation, and seven in food sector.
On funding for the project, he said it was channelled by Ministry of Agriculture Native Land and Regional
Development of Saraswak to every state constituency, with each receive RM1 million annually.
“It is our fervent hope that the participants would be able to improve their income through such involvement,” he said.
Earlier, Sibu Agriculture Department assistant enforcement officer Jenattan Sambang Ai introduced participants to the background, core objectives and scopes of the AFF project.