By DayakDaily Team
KOTA SAMARAHAN, Sept 30: Better farm roads and improved pineapple processing facilities are being eyed to unlock the agricultural potential of Kampung Sungai Mata, particularly by easing the movement of produce from farms to market.
According to a report by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang said stronger infrastructure support was essential to help farmers carry out their activities more efficiently and expand pineapple production in the area.
“We want to see the situation on the ground for ourselves, not only in terms of pineapple production but also the facilities needed by the farmers.
“Farm roads and processing facilities are among the important aspects that can help improve efficiency and the potential of the agricultural sector in this area,” she said during a site visit to the Kampung Sungai Mata Pineapple Farm yesterday (Sept 29).
Rubiah, who is also Kota Samarahan MP, and her delegation toured the pineapple processing facilities and inspected sections of Jalan Pospek Sungai Mata and the Sungai Mata Farm Road project to gauge the needs of farmers in the area.
She said better road access would not only facilitate the transportation of pineapples but also support the economic activities of local residents who depend on agriculture.
“When access to farm areas is improved, the movement of agricultural produce becomes easier. This, in turn, can help reduce the constraints faced by farmers and provide room for agricultural activities to grow,” she added.
She said that a hands-on approach was important to identify the needs of rural communities based on actual conditions on the ground.
This was particularly important for infrastructure directly linked to economic activities and the well-being of rural residents, she said.
Also present were Samarahan District Officer Ahmad Abdul Razak, Kota Samarahan MP’s Special Officer Anuar Abdul Da’an, and Sungai Mata village headman Elen Mustafa. — DayakDaily
