Ministry to revive buffalo population in S’wak
LIMBANG: The Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development will increase the number of buffaloes in Sarawak and also allocate RM3.2 million for farmers in this division to rear buffaloes on a larger scale.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas – also the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development – noted that the number of buffaloes in Sarawak had gone down from 11,000 in year 2000, to 5,000 this
For this year alone, RM3.2 million is allocated for buffalo farmers in this division. I hope the Bisayas and other communities here would support the ministry’s programme to increase the number of buffaloes
year.
As such, he said the ministry would provide allocations to implement various initiatives and programmes to increase the number of buffaloes, slated for meeting both domestic needs and those of neighbouring Brunei.
“For this year alone, RM3.2 million is allocated for buffalo farmers in this division.
“I hope the Bisayas and other communities here would support the ministry’s programme to increase the number of buffaloes,” he said in his speech at the annual Babulang Festival here recently, which also featured the trademark ‘Buffalo Race’.
His text of speech was read by Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala.
Limbang MP Hasbi Habibollah, Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang and his wife Mary Sindang, Limbang Resident Ahmad Denney Ahmad Fauzi, Sarawak Bisaya Association ( PBS) president Antonio Kahti Galis and his deputy Peter Sawal, as well as local community leader Temenggong Nicholas Boyok Pura were also present at the event.
Meanwhile in his remarks, Gerawat said one of the objectives behind the grand organisation of Babulang Festival was for other communities to know about, learn and appreciate the culture and traditions of the Bisayas.
“Knowledge about other communities is essential to foster racial harmony.
“The Babulang Festival also helps us preserve traditions and at the same time, enrich the national heritage.”
Gerawat suggested that the festival be documented using the latest technology so that it could be made one of the tourist attractions in the division.
“The festival could also be used as a platform for all communities to interact and this, in turn, could strengthen racial unity and harmony in Sarawak,” he said, adding that the festival could also promote buffalo-racing as a unique local folk sport.
Later, Gerawat announced government grants of RM50,000 from Uggah, as well as RM15,000 from himself, for the organisation of the annual festival.
Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Deputy Chief Minister