KUCHING: The Sago and Nipah Development Board Bill, 2022 tabled by Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Datuk Sri Stephen Rundi to promote, facilitate and develop the sago and nipah industries is timely.
Beting Maro assemblyman Razaili Gapor said this when debating in support of the Bill during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
Razaili said the Sago and Nipah Development Board will focus on matters relating to the appointment, administration, staff, directors, finance, functions and authorities.
“For smallholders, the establishment of this board is very much awaited because there is no distinct department like this before to fence their welfares.
“The Board will pay attention to the development of sago and ‘nipah’ commodities as well as the exertions to increase the income of rumbia smallholders and ‘gula apong’ (nipah palm sugar) entrepreneurs.
“Aspects of policy, planning, rehabilitation, production, marketing, research and new technologies are also to be in the focus of the Board,” said Razaili.
According to him, sago and ‘rumbia’ are important assets and are considered as golden trees that have helped the economy of the people of Melanau.
Sarawak is currently the largest exporter of sago in the world but there is no special board for sago and nipah compared to paddy, pineapple, palm oil and cocoa.
At the moment, there is only the state agriculture department has a special programme for planting sago trees while Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) is only involved in managing smallholder estates in Mukah through the sago farmers’ satellite farm expansion programme.
Razaili further said that nipah’s main product, ‘gula apong’, is cultivated mainly in Kampung Tambak, Pusa while Kuching, Samarahan, Rejang and Limbang has a large but unexplored nipah area.
“Nipah production activities are still using traditional methods.
“Now is the time for the government to work to develop the Nipah Industrial Park and ‘gula apong’ manufacturing commercially for domestic and export needs.
“Kampung Tambak, Pusa has the potential to be a centre for the development of the nipah and ‘gula apong’ industry that can meet the needs of the state and the country,” Razaili said.
Other than that, he mentioned that Sarawak is facing competition for the use of land for development, causing the indigenous areas of nipah to decrease.
Thus, a long -term planning is needed so that the potential can be harnessed and benefit the local community, he said.
Technological advances and research will enable the production of sago and nipah products to be commercialised to provide investment and economic returns.
Upon disclosing his debate, he said the Sago and Nipah Development Board is expected to supervise the welfare, management and development for the sago industry and explore the potential of nipah in the state.
