The agricultural sector, being one of the main focuses of the economy, especially to consolidate food security, also needs to be reviewed.
Area Farmer
Organisations (AFO) in
Sarawak should take the lead in getting farmers in their respective areas to effectively implement agriculture programmes, especially post-Covid-19.
Ass istant
Minister of Agriculture,
Native Land and
Regional Development
Datuk Dr Abdul
Rahman Ismail said a taskforce has been formed to review the future direction of the state's economy after the pandemic is over.
“The agricultural sector, being one of the main focuses of the economy, especially to consolidate food security, also needs to be reviewed.
“It is also in line with Sarawak's vision of becoming a net food exporter by 2030,” he said on Thursday when symbolically handing over agricultural inputs under the Agriculture Facilitation Fund (AFF) programme in Limbang.
The Bukit Kota assemblyman said the government had allocated RM2 million under the programme last year to assist farmers in the constituency.
“Thank you to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for providing a bigger allocation to our ministry and also introducing AFF, which is badly needed by farmers throughout Sarawak,” he said.
He added the plant input such as fertilisers and agro-chemicals will reduce the cost of production and therefore increase the net farm income for food crops such as pineapples, bananas, pandan coconuts, petai, and vegetables.
“With these farm inputs, which are a subsidy from the government, I see no reason why such a programme cannot be successful as there is plenty of fertile land in Sarawak,” he said.
Dr Abdul Rahman also visited the AFF project at Kampung Sayung where he joined participants for the symbolic planting of pandan coconut for the 20ha project.