KUCHING: The State Agriculture Department will look at various plans and proposals from all relevant departments and agencies in the development of the Bukit Sadok Agropolitan (BSA) and Betong-Sarikei Food Basket Areas (BSFBA) projects.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said this yesterday at a meeting of the various departments and agencies involved.
He said these proposals would be presented to the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg by the end of this month.
“I am rather disappointed that not much has taken place in the agropolitan compared to other similar projects.
“The time has come for us to come up with concrete plans and proposals in order for these two projects to become a reality.
“We may need to set up a specific development agency to oversee or manage the development,” he said.
Uggah said the BSA and BSFBA would particularly need more roads to make all plantable areas accessible besides coming up with proper drainage system.
“These two items are very important fundamental components,” he pointed out.
Uggah said other matters would be identifying the soil types and the most suitable crops to be planted.
“Then, we will decide on the business mode we can use,” he added.
Currently,the deputy chief minister said there were already sizeable oil palm, rubber, coconut, sago, nipah palm and durian cultivations there.
“But I believe the huge areas have very big potentials for pineapple and bananas besides vegetables and livestock farming,” he said.
Uggah said it was the aim of the state government to be a net exporter of food products by the year 2030.
Sarawak, he said, had demonstrated some successes as it had last year alone exported RM45 million worth of live pigs to Singapore, besides durian paste to China and Pisang Kapok to Peninsular Malaysia.
He reiterated that the government was serious in developing BSA and BSFBA.
“This is evident in the fact that it has decided to buy a transport aeroplane and given its approval for an airstrip to be built in Betong Division.
“Any farm products can then be transported very fresh and fast to the markets,” he said.
In addition, he said the government too had wanted rural people to earn RM4,000 and above each month through modern farming.
“This will help us to eradicate the remnant of poverty in the state.” He said.
Present at the meeting were Pakan assemblyman Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, three other reps, namely Datuk Abdul Wahap Aziz (Kalaka), Razaili Gapur (Beting Maro) and Gerald Rentap Jabu (Layar).
