The northern region of Sarawak, particularly Miri Division, is capable of being the leader in modernised community-based agriculture, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.

He said following his recent visit to several highland farm sites in Thailand, he believes the agricultural concept there could be used in Miri owing to the many suitable locations and fertile highlands, such as those in Baram.

“I have just got back from Thailand where I managed to see how the people (there) have been working together in their highlands using community-based enterprise. I hope Miri can become a model for business enterprise which we had proposed to spearhead the development of agriculture.

“This effort is possible, as Miri has many successful agropreneurs who can be examples to those who want to engage in agriculture,” said Uggah at the Miri Division Planters Association’s Eastern Union Agriculture Development Cooperative Chinese New Year Gathering here yesterday.

Earlier, Uggah who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development attended a meeting with members of the association and cooperative.

He commended their efforts in responding to the call of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to use digital technology to boost the agricultural sector by 2030.

“Realising the potential of Sarawak, especially Miri, the Chief Minister has set up a target. The job is not easy as we have been in the  agriculture sector where so  far, most of our programmes have been for our own consumption, not so much for export.

“Hence we want to find a new and best approach to develop the agriculture sector so that it is more dynamic and competitive.”

In the meeting, Uggah was also briefed by Eastern Union Agriculture Development Cooperative on the MD2 pineapple cultivation plan here.

Among the matters discussed in the initial plan was to identify a 100-acre site for the start-up.

At the event, Uggah announced an allocation of RM50,000 to the cooperative, while Assistant Minister of Local Government  Datu Dr Penguang Manggil allocated RM20,000; Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin, RM20,000; Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting, RM10,000; and Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, RM10,000.

Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin and his special assistant Erick Chin, Miri Resident Sherrina Hussaini and Miri mayor Adam Yii were among those present at the luncheon.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Jude Toyat

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