KUCHING: A total of RM100 million will be allocated to develop a total of 2 million hectares of land for agriculture
This will be undertaken under the Agriculture Venture Capital that will be implemented by the state government next year.
Hence, Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas called out aspiring agriculture entrepreneurs, both new and old to make full use of the allocation.
“It will be given to groups instead of individuals. Once the groups have received it, the project will be managed by government agencies such as the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) or Felcra Berhad (Sarawak Branch).
“Once the project has reached maturity and is able to generate its own profit, these agencies will sell your shares of the project to the group,” said by Uggah in a press conference held after the launching ceremony of Malaysian Agricultural Research & Development Institute (MARDI) Customer Day and AGORA 6 Agropreneur Muda MARDI at Jalan Sultan Tengah here yesterday.
The AGORA 6 Agropreneur Muda MARDI will be involving a total 250 agriculture entrepreneurs all throughout Sarawak.
Emphasising more on the venture capital, the state government is still finalising on which agency will be managing the venture, minimum or maximum amount of allocation for one group and the mechanics of the whole venture.
These also include identifying available lands and the type of crops that should be developed.
“We will not be giving focus in oil palm production as Sarawak will be developed into a food-based industrialisation state,” said Uggah.
