110 acres in Serembu earmarked for pilot projects — Miro

KUCHING: A total of 110 acres of land will be developed in Serembu state constituency along the line of integrated farming systems.

Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh said of the total acreage, 30 acres would be developed at Kampung Kopit, 40 acres in Kampung Gumbang and 40 acres in Krokong that would involve three villages – Kampung Pisa, Kampung Batu Sepit and Kampung Piros, all in Bau.

He said the participants in Kampung Kopit would be cultivating the MD2 pineapples, those in Kampung Gumbang would be planting the ‘ bentong ginger’ while the participants in Krokong will plant baby corn.

“These are all pilot projects, which I have initiated for the villagers in my constituency.

“If these projects succeed, I will extend it to the other villages in my area,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Miro said the MD2 pineapple project would involve 18 participants, 16 participants in ‘ bentong’ ginger, and 20 participants in the baby corn project.

He said the ‘bentong’ ginger farm in Kampung Gumbang is expected to be the biggest in Sarawak.

Under this pilot project, the participants are to clear their own land while the Sarawak government through the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development would provide the start- up assistance, including seedlings.

He said RM500,000 had been allocated to implement the three pilot projects, which would start this month.

“The budget is already approved by the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah and is being ‘parked’ at Sarawak Agriculture Department, which will also monitor the project,” he said.

He believes all the three crops are in high demand now, saying if all the three projects succeed, it would boost the local economy and income of the farmers in the area.