By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Feb 16: The setting up of the Sarawak Rubber Industry Board (Sarib) and Sago and Nipah Development Board (SNDB) will develop the commodities to be translated into ‘dollars and cents’.
Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the rubber, sago and nipah commodities are considered products which are commercialised by smallholders in a small-scale over the years.
“The new bodies (Sarib and SNDB) will focus on assisting the smallholders by formulating policies and guide them in order to move them from traditional ways of doing business in the small industry and move them into a more full-fledged commercialisation,” he said at a press conference after the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
Dr Rundi who is also Kemena assemblyman however explained that the shift on agricultural development for the commodities cannot be done drastically.
He said the Ministry will have to do it in a steady manner whereby the smallholders must be introduced to the modernisation of agriculture and the process to develop and commercialise their products.
“Once that is fully understood, then we moved on to full-fledged commercialisation. This is very critical because it has to be private sector-driven which includes expertise, research and development (R&D) and the resource in development so that we would be able to improve ways of doing business,” he added.
He took note that sago industry has already exists in coastal areas like Mukah with the presence of private developers working in small factories.
However, he stressed that the industry is not really fully developed in terms of ‘dollars and cents’, implying that it hasn’t reach a certain level where the locals can generate better income and improve their livelihoods. – DayakDaily
