By Jacob Achoi
KUCHING, Sept 14: Mambong assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil is happy to note that a coffee collection centre is now available in the area which will greatly help local farmers to sell the commodity.
He said the centre—Reka Plantation Sdn Bhd—located at Kpg Emperoh Karu along Jalan Borneo Heights ties in together with the effort to turn Mambong area into a coffee belt.
“When we talk about making the area (Mambong) into a coffee belt, it is about planting and selling.
“And while the government is assisting farmers to plant coffee, any parties, whether government or private-based wanting to put up a collection centre is very much encouraged,” Dr Jerip, who is Assistant Transport Minister told reporters yesterday.
He said this when visiting the centre, which has a local partner Regina Katup from Kpg Emperoh Karu, yesterday.
Dr Jerip added that with the centre already available, people should plant coffee even in their backyards.
According to him, the Liberica species is easy to plant.
“Planting coffee is a backyard piggy bank (sic), so the people must think of this for socio-economic activities,” he added.
Dr Jerip also highlighted that the proposed Coffee Collection and Processing Centre (CCPC) at Padawan Growth Centre in Kampung Bra’ang Bayur is part of a long-term plan of the state government to stabilise the prices of the commodity.
“For the CCPC, it will be from the planting of the commodity right to the end product,” he said.
Meanwhile, the centre co-owner from Reka Jaya, Henry Yong said the centre has ties with 40 local farmers and manages to buy 100kg of the commodity a month.
He said the centre is paying RM2 per kg of fresh coffee beans to be processed at a factory in Bintawa.
He also revealed the proposed CCPC at Padawan Growth Centre will help local farmers and the area’s coffee industry to grow. — DayakDaily
