State to buy cargo plane
Chief Minister says aircraft will facilitate export of Sarawak’s agricultural products
LUNDU: The state government will purchase a RM10-million threetonne cargo plane to facilitate the export of agricultural products from the state, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the acquisition of the aircraft will require the building of landing strips in Sadok, Sri Aman and Tunoh, Kapit so that agricultural produce from the two areas and others around them can be brought to Kuching and exported faster and more efficiently.
We will focus on creating infrastructures to support the (agriculture) industry. We also plan to purchase a three-tonne cargo plane worth RM10 million which will be attached to the state Agriculture Ministry. Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minister
“Sarawak has vast land and we should look into how we can intensi f y farming and agriculture. We should be the main player and exporter of food to other countries as we have the land.
“We wil l focus on creating infrastructures to support the ( agriculture) industry. We also plan to purchase a three- tonne cargo plane worth RM10 million which will be attached to the state Agriculture Ministry,” he said when officiating at the ‘ Road to Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show’ ( Maha 2018) at Lundu Waterfront yesterday.
The two- day Maha 2018 at Lundu Town Waterfront began Saturday, with Sarawak chosen as the fi rst venue of the nationwide roadshow series.
In noting that the state spends about RM3 bi l lion annual ly to import food to meet local demand, Abang Johari said the government will intensify efforts to modernise the agriculture industry in Sarawak and mitigate reliance on imported food.
He also highlighted that the state had been able to increase its contribution to the total national agriculture output from RM11.8 billion or 14.3 per cent to RM14.7 billion or 16.8 per cent.
On digital economy, the chief minister said the Internet of Things has a big role in the agriculture industry, citing the use of internet in the management of agricultural farms.
“The younger generation of farmers are well- informed on this and the state government must be ready to allocate the proper assistance and policies to suit the current needs of the industry,” he added.
To assist the industry financially, he said RM 200 million had been allocated as venture capital this year to assist agricultural entrepreneurs and to boost the industry as well.
Abang Johari thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro- Based Industry for choosing Sarawak as the first venue for the roadshow series.
During the ceremony, it was announced that 138 persons had received In- Kind Contribution ( IKC) grants from the Young Agropreneur Unit under the ministry, with the chief minister symbolically presenting the grants to several recipients.
Maha 2018 promotes agriculture and agro- based industries, showcasing all the different components of this fast- growing industry. It is scheduled to be held from Nov 22 to Dec 2 this year in Serdang.
Among those present during the ceremony were Abang Johari’s wife Datin Patinggi Dato Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and wife Datin Amar Doreen Mayang, Tanjong Datu assemblywoman Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro- Based Industry Datuk Anthony Nogeh, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and wife Datin Seri Feona Junaidi.