KOTA SAMARAHAN: The state government will set up marketing offices in Pontianak (West Kalimantan) and Brunei for exporting of food like it already has with Singapore which is performing very well.
“We (state government) are now focusing on marketing our food product to other countries. We have all kinds of produce which we can export, such as fruits and fish for example,” Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said during the earth-breaking ceremony of the State Farmers’ Organisation (SFO) headquarters here yesterday.
Abang Johari also said the state government had invested a lot in agriculture, which included the RM700 million budget for the purpose, to increase the production volume of food products and income of farmers.
Thus, it is important that more infrastructure such as road and bridges and even small airports (in a few districts) are built across the state because they will help farmers and entrepreneurs’ produce and food products to be easily exported.
Abang Johari expects all the infrastructure to be completed and operational by 2025.
“Agriculture is one of the crucial sectors in Sarawak. It contributes much revenue for the state which is why we are keen to build more infrastructure for the people to contribute to its development,” he said.
Commenting on the building of SFO headquarters which is expected to be completed in 2022, Abang Johari said it would also become a centre for agricultural technology in the state.
The headquarters will double up as a venue to exhibit, sell, distribute and market farm produce and a venue where farmers can learn state-of-the art farming techniques to be applied in Sarawak.
“We also want this place to not only promote modern farming but also a place that promotes modern farming technology,” he said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Agriculture Native Land and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said that the headquarters will be the lifeblood of SFO and all 28 Area Farmers Organisation (AFOs) throughout Sarawak.
He also said the headquarters built at a cost of RM20 million would be a meeting centre for SFO, AFOs and all parties related to the field of agriculture.
It is located on a plot of land in Pentagon, Kota Samarahan.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah who is also Minister of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Native Land and Development Datuk Roland Sagah and other officials were also present at the function.