‘Think of way to prevent theft of oil palm fruits’

MARUDI: The board of directors of Farmers’ Organisation Baram ( PPK Baram) were urged to find a way to prevent the theft of oil palm fruits which was getting rampant.

Dennis Ngau who is retired permanent president of PPK Baram made this call at the opening of the 26th AGM of Baram Farmers’ Organisation at Baram Civic Centre here yesterday.

Dennis who is also Telang Usan assemblyman called on farmers to cooperate with each other and with the government to solve this problem.

PPK Baram has 9,249 members in Baram with 105 units from last year’s 95 units, giving a total dividend of RM655,255.05 or shares worth RM70.85 each.

Dennis said there were much lands to develop with assistance from State National Farmers Organisation (Nafas).

He revealed that the government had approved a sum of RM50 million as subsidy for hill padi planting.

Integrated farming had been introduced to the farmers with help in marketing and packaging, he said.

The prime source of income for PPK Baram is from the federal government padi fertiliser scheme or SBPKP worth RM312,416.00.

The speakers included PPK Baram chairman who is Tuai Rumah Blalang Atom; Sarawak PPK chairman and member of Nafas board of directors, Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran.

Dennis announced a RM5,000 grant from Nafas and RM3,000 for PKK Baram.

Present were PPNS (Pertubuhan Peladang Negeri Sarawak) general manager Senawi Ismail, Assistant Agriculture director ( Farmers Institution Section) Mohidi Bidin, Baram PPK general manager Markus Abing and SAO Reagan Edwin.