AMONG the important steps to reduce the impact of the rising farming cost is the bulk acquisition of farming input by the State Farmers’ Organisation Sarawak (PPNS).
Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Martin Ben said that through this acquisition, it is hoped that a more competitive price can be offered to the members of PPNS.
“The Department of Agriculture, together with the Department of Veterinary Services is hard at work in implementing good agriculture practices and good animal husbandry practices among the farmers and breeders.
“This practice will assist the farmers and breeders to avoid wastage and decrease the cost alongside improve their productivity and profit,” he said.
He said this when replying to Kennedy Chukpai Ugon (GPS-Murum) on the initiatives and steps that the government would take to control the price of farming input during the question-and-answer at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting yesterday.
On another note, Martin added that the status of the development of the farming station in Murum is in various stages of implementation.
“For Tegulang station, the development has reached over 56 per cent, while Sg Asap station is in the documentation tender stage and Metalun station is currently in the preparation for its design building.
“At the moment, the state government has no plans to build the farming collection centre in Murum. However, the government will take it into consideration should there is a necessity to do it,” he added.
Martin then explained that state government has allocated RM780,548 to implement various farming development programmes from 2021 to 2023 and it is estimated that it would give benefits to 560 participants of the programme in Murum.
