MUKAH: Residents of Kampung Tanam Dalat hoped an area estimated to be about 1,500 hectares at Hulu Sungai Tanam can be developed into a sago palm plantation. Some of the villagers have gone to Land Custodian and Development Board (PELITA) Office here recently to submit their application for the setting of the sago plantation.
The group led by Frederick Isey b Akie, who represented the residents of Dalat District’s second largest village met a staff from the board, Abor B Yet.
During the brief but meaningful visit, the villagers were told that their applications would be taken into consideration.
According to Isey, PELITA has to conduct soil tests and inspection before it can respond to the villagers’ application.
He added that although sago is the most popular cash crop in the area, the soil quality would determine whether the venture is viable before it can proceed,” he said.
It is learnt that the group who represented more than 220 villagers listed in the application considered sago palm as the most appropriate and sustainable cash crop to plant in the area.
When asked what prompted them to go to PELITA, Isey said that it was because the board is also a government agency and moreover it has also been involved in the endeavour in other areas in the division.
“We have been thinking about PELITA right from the beginning, and even the local Land and Survey Department Office suggested us to develop the land through joint venture with PELITA or Sarawak Land Development Board (SLDB) as the land has yet to be developed,” he said.
Isey also disclosed that if the land were found to be unsuitable for sago then they may consider planting other cash crops.
