31 state, federal agencies involved in RTP – Uggah
LIMBANG: It would be full steam ahead for Sarawak’s Rural Transformation Programme ( RTP) this year, with 31 state and federal agencies on board to roll out programmes to narrow the rural-urban gap in income and development.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture and Rural Economy Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said a monitoring committee had been set up in every division to ensure that all RTP projects would be effectively carried out and benefit the target groups.
He said this in launching the Badudun and Buffalo Racing Festival in Kampung Telahak here on Saturday.
Also present were Assistant Minister for Rural Economy ( Coastal Areas) and Fisheries Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Assistant Minister for Welfare and Community Wellbeing Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Limbang MP Hasbi Habibolah, Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang, Deputy Limbang Resident ( Development) Selamat Jati Yanjah, Limbang District Officer Jamalie Busri, Limbang District Council chairman Sufian Mohat and Limbang Malay Association chairman Mohamad Abu Bakar.
Uggah said the government had allocated RM100 million for smallholders throughout the state to implement their RTP projects and provided subsidies for smallholders involved in plantation of oil palm, pepper, rubber, sago and coconut, apart from farming of honey bees and bird’s nest.
“Sarawak intends to start a honey bee ( kelulut) industry as studies have indicated that this will give good returns to smallholders,” he said.
The deputy chief minister also said the RTP target included 50 per cent self- sufficiency in cattle, goat and buffalo meat in the state by 2030, adding that he had directed the Veterinary Services Department to focus on development of livestock in Sarawak, including research on buffalo production in line with making Limbang the buffalo production hub in the state.
He said under the 11th Malaysia Plan, RM17 million had been allocated for the buffalo industry development in the state and RM10 million would be in the form of subsidies for buffalo farmers, out of which 400 are in Limbang.
In addition to that, training and other forms of assistance would be provided to the farmers, he added.
On Pesta Badudun and Buffalo Racing, he believed that event would promote unity and harmony among the people.
Meanwhile, he announced Minor Rural Project (MRP) grants of RM30,000 in to Limbang Malay Association and RM10,000 for the parents-teachers association of SK Telahak.