Sungai Asap can be a major food producer — Uggah
KUCHING: The Sungai Asap Resettlement Area near Belaga has the potential to be another major mass producer of food in Sarawak, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
In this respect, the Sarawak government through the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development will work closely with the Highland Development Agency and other relevant ministries and agencies to fully tap its potential, Uggah said.
He made the remarks when speaking to members of the Area Agriculture Development and Transformation Committee led by Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon who called on him at his office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Petra Jaya here yesterday.
“You still have the land while the people are experienced, hardworking farmers. I have in mind the intention to introduce modern agriculture programmes like fertigation and hydroponics for greater and high quality production and thus better income,” said Uggah.
“We can hold courses and give suitable aid for these modern precision farming to help those interested,” he added.
He suggested they plant chilli and rock melon besides vegetables
You still have the land while the people are experienced, hardworking farmers. I have in mind the intention to introduce modern agriculture programmes like fertigation and hydroponics for greater and high quality production and thus better income. Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Deputy Chief Minister
and oil palm which they had been doing quite well.
“There is also big potential in Musang King durian cultivation and the Kelulut honey production and cage fish rearing.”
He said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government could also help them with marketing.
This could be done first through the creation of a collecting, processing and packaging centre, he said, adding that another potential that could be explored further is padi and pepper farming.
Uggah stressed it is very important that the area with 15 longhouses and about 2,000 families have a very strong leadership and teams to manage and guide the farmers.
Chukpai, in his speech, informed that efforts by the previous government to help the Penan farmers in Lesong Laku to plant rice had been quite promising.
He said an area of 170 hectares had been set aside for the purpose.
“Now the Penan farmers there have rice all year round. They can even supply to others in Long Linau and Long Ludam areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pemanca Tony Kulleh hoped the government would build more roads on land in the area which had been earmarked for agricultural activities.
“This will help them to open up such areas,” he said.
Another community leader, Pemanca Umek Jeno, hoped the government could help oil palm smallholders here to open up more areas.
To this, Uggah said he would consider getting Salcra to come in.
A lso present at the meeting was Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.