Toil your plots yourselves or lose farming rights, TKPM agropreneurs told
KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah has warned permanent food production park ( TKPM) agropreneurs to develop their plots themselves or risk having their farming rights withdrawn.
He said action would be taken against those found to be not serious in developing their plots, as the core objective of these parks is to produce food in speciallydedicated areas.
“The objective (of TKPM) must be upheld and enhanced. Agropreneurs in the state who have been given the opportunity to do their farming in any TKPM must develop their plots themselves.
“They should not sublet or subcontract the plots to others,” he said after a visit to Semenggok TKPM, here yesterday.
Uggah, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, said there are now 12 such parks in Sarawak, adding that measures would be taken to improve them in terms of infrastructure to make them more conducive for their purpose.
“Based on my visit to Semenggok, there are issues that need to be rectified. I am sure these (issues) also apply to the other parks.”
He said he has directed the Agriculture Department to address the issues and to ensure there are sufficient resources for the maintenance of the parks.
“I also want the department to ensure the selected agropreneurs carry out their programmes properly,” he added.
Meanwhile, Uggah said he was happy to note that Semenggok TKPM, which spans 52 hectares, had attracted young agropreneurs.
“Today I met three of them who are below 35 years of age. They are among the 10 participants there. This is very encouraging,” he said.
Following his visit, Uggah stopped by at the Agriculture Department’s Semenggok Inland Fishery Research Station, where he directed the station to focus on the research and production of ornamental fish.
“There are big markets overseas and in particular, I want them to look at some of the beautiful native species that we have like the arowana,” he said, adding an incubator would be set up at the station to develop potential exporters.
Meanwhile, touching on the ‘ Tagang’ (controlled fishing) conservation programme, the deputy chief minister said more of such system would be established statewide to add to the 77 currently in place.
The programme, he explained, is to ensure continuing stock of indigenous fish in Sarawak rivers, and will control destructive fishing methods like fish bombing, electrocution and poisoning.
“Thus it is also good for the environment and of course tourism, to enable rural folk to earn some income like (those) in Sabah.”
Among those present during the visit were Agriculture Department director Dr Alvin Chai, a political secretary to the chief minister Dr Richard Rapu, and Dr Gluma Saban from the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development.