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Working on creation of non-timber forest products

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KUCHING: The Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) is actively engaging local communities in development programmes intended to enhance the knowledge and skills involved in the creation of non-timber forest products (NTFP).

Its director Hamden Mohammad, stated that this is done via workshops, technical training sessions, courses and study tours.

“This is also to expose the community to new ideas, creativity and diversity in the production of NTFPs,” he said during his speech at the opening ceremony of the Non-Timber Forest Products Carnival Sarawak 2019 at Kuching Waterfront here, yesterday.

Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh, who represented Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, officiated at the ceremony.

According to Hamden, FDS has been carrying out workshops and training sessions on creating handicrafts from NTFPs such as rattan, herbs and spices, ‘bemban’ and ‘pinang puteri’ since 2009 in collaboration with various agencies such as APA (Attitude Planet Art) from Selangor and Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation.

Touching on the NTFP Carnival, an annual event of FDS since 2016, he announced that this year’s edition themed ‘Advancing Partnership for Sustainability’ was organised on a larger scale over seven days as opposed to five days previously.

The carnival aims to promote, market, and expand business networks for NTFPs produced by the local communities.

“The NTFP Carnival has gathered communities within and around the Heart of Borneo (HoB), affected by the hydroelectric project (HEP) and those who live in coastal areas all over Sarawak,” he said.

The carnival brought together various agencies from Indonesia, Nepal, Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines whose collaborations, Hamden believed, would further promote the NTFP industry of Sarawak more efficiently.

“The carnival has also opened up the opportunity for local communities to share knowledge and experience, as well as gain some fresh and new ideas on NTFP-making,” he said.

Besides this, he noted that the participation of multi-ethnic groups in Sarawak such as Malays, Melanau, Iban, Lun Bawang, Kenyah, Kedayan, Penan and more would showcase the state’s uniques culture to tourists, thus promoting eco-tourism.

“We hope that this carnival can boost the sales of NTFPs and also promote NTFPs produced by the community on a larger scale, generating alternative income,” said Hamden.

The NTFP Carnival coincides with the celebration of the 100th year anniversary of FDS, which is today (August 15). FDS was established in 1919 when Sarawak was ruled by the third White Rajah Sir Charles Vyner Brooke.

The NTFP Carnival Sarawak 2019 began yesterday and will go on until August 20.

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