‘Turn your idle land into money-making venture’
MIRI: People in rural Baram are urged to cultivate their land with cash crops to improve their economic wellbeing and also to attract the younger generation to pursue a career in agriculture.
According to Assistant Minister of Transport Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Baram is very huge and fertile, but is left idle.
“Baram can become a food basket supplying food to Miri and beyond.
“With huge tracts of land for cultivating cash crops, coupled with assistance from the government, we can even export some of our excess harvest.
“All it takes is for the people to change their attitude and go into the planting of cash crops on their idle land. The return is huge,” he said when officiating at the closing ceremony of Community Extension Outreach Programme (CEOP) organised by the divisional Agriculture Department yesterday.
The event, held at Long Bedian was aimed at sharing with the people, especially farmers in the rural areas, through dialogues and the sharing of ideas and opinions, knowledge in planting skills to enhance their productivity. It was held in Telang Usan constituency after being held in various places including Mulu, Bekenu and Marudi before
Dr Jerip also urged the rural folk to allow their land to be surveyed and issued titles under Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code so that they do not miss the opportunities brought about by the state government, including the various agriculture schemes.
“I want village development and security committees to form a special committee to deal with m ers concerning land for agriculture development.
“This is important to avoid any conflicts arising later. Work together with the Land and Survey Department and Agriculture Department,” he told them.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, Agriculture Department officer Jackson Nanta, a political secretary to chief minister Charles Balan Seling, Mike Arthur Nakabok who represented Telang Usan District Officer, Long Bedian headman Leslie Lah and Cr Jok Eng Jok were among those present.