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From nipah palm sugar to nipah honey

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Uggah (right) and Razaili (second right) at a food stall selling Beting Maru ‘gula apong’.
Uggah (right) and Razaili (second right) at a food stall selling Beting Maru ‘gula apong’.

BELADIN: Plans are afoot to further improve the quality of the “gula apong” or nipah palm sugar produced  in Beting Maru  here.

These include mechanising  its processing to accentuate its quality and nutritive values, giving suitable packaging  before rebranding it as nipah honey in its liquid form.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the state government had allocated a sum of RM2 million to set up its industrial area.

He said this when officiating at the closing of the Beting Maru Food Festival 2018  here

yesterday.

Uggah said the product, reputed to be the best in the nation and diabetic-friendly, was now still traditionally processed.

“So with the modern input, we can raise the quality standard and boost its demands and sales nationwide,” he said.

He said “gula apong” was among the products with great commercial potentials in the area.

Beting Maru, situated in the Sadok Agropolitian Area between Sarikei and Betong, also has tremendous potentials for the large scale cultivation of numerous other fruits and vegetables.

Uggah who is also the Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister said it was the state government’s vision and intention to introduce  modern precision farming to the agropolitan and other suitable areas statewide.

“Precision farming for commercial purposes will be more efficient, less labour-intensive and  yield greater productivity and returns.

“We will use modern technologies to efficiently manage and monitor the operations,” he stressed.

Uggah said for next year, his ministry had been given a budget of RM355 million to develop rural areas through modern farming.

“Of course, this will include bringing in more or upgrading infrastructure like roads, drainage system, setting up food parks as well as processing and collecting centres.

“The relevant trainings and planting materials will 

be provided,” he said.

Uggah said the state would link up with reputed anchor companies to buy products from the farmers and market them to the outside world.

He again reminded the people it was the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s vision for the state to be a net exporter of food by 2030.

He believed that the agriculture sector would be a new source of wealth for the state, Uggah said.

He later announced a grant of RM1million as subsidy next year for farmers and breeders in Beting Maru state constituency.

Uggah who is in charge of the state Unit for Other Religions(Unifor) also announced a grant of RM500,00 for the SK Mutun chapel and RM200,00 each for the Mutun Asal and Beluh chapels here.

He called on the people to continue giving their fullest support to the state GPS government under Johari for his “Sarawak First” policy and his unrelenting pursuit of the eroded state rights under the MA63.

  Johari, he added had often said only local leaders could better understand local situations, problems and the people’s

aspirations.

As such, Uggah said they would be more enthusiastic and committed in serving and delivering services to the people.

He also called on them to continue supporting Beting Maru state assemblyman Razaili Gapur whom he described as a visionary, committed and non-confrontational leader.

“The fact that he has come up with a masterplan for the overall development of Beting Maru speaks volume of the quality of leadership,” he said.

In his speech earlier on,   Razaili said the area was currently developing large scale cultivation of coconut and pineapple.

“We aspire to become the state largest producer of these two crops in the coming years.

“We further aspire to develop our “gula apong” industry and the kelulut honey production.

“And we certaintly need and appreciate assistance and guidance from Uggah’s ministry,”he said.

Razaili added the incursion of sea water into the planting sites was among the area’s biggest problems.

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