Ministry strives to engage more local anchor companies for agro-marketing
KUCHING: The state government, through the Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Ministry, will work together with more local ‘anchor companies’ in buying produce from local farmers.
According to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, this model is proven to be a successful one, following the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Top Fruits (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd inked last November.
“Our farmers are very hardworking – they work on their farms from dawn to dusk. On top of that, we have plenty of land; the only obstacle is to find the market to sell their produce.
“As such, we need to find the link in the supply chain and the best way is to work together with anchor companies,” he spoke during a dinner event at a hotel here on Friday.
Uggah, who is also the Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister, said these anchor companies must have the experience in all agriculture activities and at the same time, they could afford to buy all the agro-products in the state.
“During this durian season, for instance, the company (Top Fruits) is able to buy the fruit from the local community. The company does the packaging and marketing of the fruit.
“Therefore, this shows the need to look at more companies coming in to do the same thing.
“Only through this model could we become a major food supplier by 2020, as envisioned by our Chief Minister.”
Uggah said the recent MoU with Top Fruits also resulted in the company managing the individual quick-freezing (IQF) activities at the collection centre in Tarat, Serian apart from collecting, processing and packaging operations.
Meanwhile, the dinner event was held to acknowledge the transfer of the ministry’s former permanent secretary Buckland Bangik to the State Planning Unit, where he is the new director.
The event also acknowledged the transfer of Ahmad Denney to Limbang, where he would become the Division Resident.
Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, the ministry’s new permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik and Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) director Datu Vasco Sabat Singkang were also present.