Plant staple food crops to meet demand, rural landowners urged

KUCHING: The vast land available in rural areas should be planted with staple food crops to meet supply demand, said Datuk Snowdan Lawan.

The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts said this is in view of the Premier’s announcement that Sri Aman, especially Gran-StumbinLingga area, being earmarked as a food-producing division.

“Help the government to cut import of food products from other countries, like rice for example which is our staple food.

“Be self-reliant and plant padi on your own land. The government has been subsidising farmers on this but production has not been equal,” he said when officiating at a seminar for grassroots leaders in Balai Ringin recently.

On another matter, Snowdan, who is Balai Ringin assemblyman, urged the Ketua Masyarakat and Ketua Kaum (KMKK) to strengthen the management of their village security and development committees (JKKK).

“The JKKK and the district office should work together more often to monitor the activities and welfare of the village residents, especially on drug abuse,” he said, adding that a bigger scale seminar would be organised involving all members of JKKK and women’s bureau.

“This is to further enhance their knowledge and understanding in managing the JKKK like in the corporate world,” he said.

During the event, Snowdan presented letters of appointment to one Penghulu, 11 new village heads and 37 serving village heads. Also present were Sri Aman Deputy Resident Charlie Keling, Pantu district officer Langgong Wasam and other community leaders.