MIRI: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas hopes Telang Usan folk will fully utilise their land for agricultural activities.
“Plant more fruits or vegetables or rear more chickens, fish, ducks, pigs, goats or cows,” he said.
He said this during a dinner with community leaders from the area here, which was also attended by Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau.
Uggah said rural folk must strive to increase their income through their own hard work.
“The federal government revised the national poverty line index of household income to RM2,208 from RM980, so everyone has to earn more to stay out of poverty.
“We have plenty of land and we are known for our readiness to work hard,” he pointed out.
Uggah said the Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Ministry has many programmes focusing on generating income that they could apply for.
“Please talk to your elected representative so that he or she can bring forward your applications to us for consideration, approval and the necessary financial or materials aid,” he said.
He said if in the past the approach was for them to produce for their own consumption, then now it is time for them to produce to sell.
“The more you can produce, the more you can sell … the more you can sell the more you can earn,” he said.
He added that they could sell through their area’s farmers’ organisation which had been directed to help them with marketing.
On politics, he said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government is worth their votes in the coming state election.
“We have done a lot to develop the state and its people — it is our objective to bring in even more, so the people can expect more development and progress if we remain in power,” he said.
