TYT: Boost agriculture through modernisation, commercialisation
KUCHING: The agro- based industry needs to be further developed through modernisation and commercialisation.
In making this call, Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the agriculture sector had high potential to be developed as it had been the basis for the socio- economic growth of the rural community, in particular.
“I am glad that the state government continues to focus on developing the agriculture sector through commercialisation to not only heighten export but also for food security of this state,” he said in his speech when opening the First Session of the Second Term of the State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) sitting here yesterday.
Taib said infrastructure development and modern application system coupled with good management and strategic marketing approach would help see the agriculture sector remain as the major contributor to the state’s socio- economic growth.
He also pointed out that research and development ( R& D) was another vital field for Sarawak to move forward economically.
He said findings and inventions from various R& D activities could be commercialised so as to add value to the existing products.
“I hope that the state government will continue to emphasise R& D activities to enhance productivity and competitiveness of the state’s economy.”
Touching on rural transformation, Taib said he was equally delighted to note that the rural areas throughout Sarawak had been further equipped with basic amenities.
He commended that the Rural Transformation Projects ( RTP) programme, which was essentially mooted by former chief minister the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, was indeed a people- centric policy.
“Infrastructure development such as connecting the state with roads and providing the people with electricity and water supplies as well as telecommunication services acts as a catalyst to bring about more development in rural areas.”
Taib believed that the emphasis on rural development would have far-reaching impact on elevating the socio- economic status of the people.