DALAT: The Sarawak government has identified a few crops which have the potential to be marketed to foreign countries.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said, for example, Kampung Medong and Kampung Tanam have the potential to be among the major contributors in the production of starch in Mukah.
“To achieve the targeted export value of RM100 million in 2025, the development strategy for this industry will be implemented.
“This will involve improving the infrastructure, providing modern harvesting equipment for sago smallholders, enhancing agriculture development service and providing intensive advice,” he said.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, who represented Uggah, read his text speech and officiated at the closing ceremony of the district-level Agriculture Community Outreach Programme (Agricop) at Stadium Perpaduan here yesterday (Oct 27).
Uggah, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development said pineapples also have the potential to be developed in Dalat, where RM520,000 has been allocated to develop the crop, especially in Sungai Kut and Kampung Tanam.
Meanwhile, he said the local Agriculture Department has received a total allocation of RM2.1 million this year to enable it to implement various agricultural development programmes.
According to him, it was estimated that some 603 participants benefited from the allocation.
“The Sarawak government has also channelled additional allocation totalling RM2.08 million to Dalat under the agriculture facilitation programme, wherein 2019 and 2020, some 230 participants have benefitted from the allocation,” he said.
The deputy chief minister also said the Sarawak government had focused on modern farming programmes such as fertigation and hydroponic system, which was capable of producing high-quality outputs.
Given that, he said the government had allocatedRM635,000 for the programme last year involving 30 recipients.
