BALINGIAN: The first series of Active Farmers Development programme was held in this sub-district recently.
The one-day event which involved four units of Farmers’ Organisations (FO) attracted about 500 participants from the area.
The four units involved were Kampung Pulat, Kampung Masjid, Kampung Lintang and Kampung Suyong. The event was declared open by Balingian Assemblyman, Abdul Yakub Haji Arbi.
Organised by Mukah Area Farmers’ Organisation (PPK Mukah) the event was held at the multi-purpose hall of Kampung Masjid Balingian.
PPK Mukah chairman Manuchrir Smith said it was the first tour programme carried by the FO in this sub-district.
“The main objective is to foster closer rapport among the FO units and members under the management of PPK Mukah as well as to highlight opportunities in the agriculture sector,” he said.
The event also touched on the assistance scheme for those involved in agriculture, including smallholders and the cooperation between government agencies like FAMA (Federal Agriculture Marketing Agency), Department of Agriculture and PPK.
“Others include a clustered programme for the four PPK units to be involved in the planting of sugarcane, bananas, and so on to be marketed to West Malaysia by FAMA,” he said.
Manuchrir also pointed that the event included an explanation on the direction and objectives of the formation of PPK in Malaysia by an officer from the FO Registrar Headquarters, Hatta Adenan.
“The programme reveals assistance from the government through the local agriculture department by A Azemi, programme implementation by PPK Mukah General Manager, Pakasa Agat and a talk by the FAMA representative,” he disclosed.
The half-day event was also attended by Penghulu Shahdan Shahari.
