By William Isau
SIBU, Feb 26: Sarawak has great potential in the aquaculture sector and can generate income by exporting fishery products.
Dudong assemblyman Dato Sri Tiong King Sing said this is because Sarawak has a coastline of about 1,000 kilometres and an area covered by water of 150,000 hectares.
“The aquaculture industry is one of the important sectors that will be developed under Sarawak’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
“In this context, Sarawak is committed to increasing and improving the scale of food production for commercial and export.
“It does cover not only crops and livestock but also the fisheries sector,” he said in the text of his speech read by the chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (PDP) Dudong Division, Teo Boon Siew, at the closing ceremony of the Aquaculture Basic Course Lecture today.
According to Tiong, who is also the Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture and Bintulu MP, the aquaculture industry has a large market. Therefore, it can be one of the country’s economic resources to benefit the people and the country.
He is confident that the organisation of such a course can provide the best platform for international partners to establish and strengthen research collaborations and market opportunities for aquatic products and aquaculture technologies.
“I understand that, among other things, the aim is to help restore the economic development among local communities affected by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as to generate income for the parties involved,” said the Bintulu MP.
The half-day course was jointly organised by the Central Zone Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Bawang Assan Division PDP, Kawasan Rukun Tetangga (KRT) Sungai Empawah, and Norkiah Malaysian Family Community.
Sarawak Agriculture Department Senior Fisheries Officer Chin Han Kiat conducted the course, which 180 participants attended to improve their knowledge and understanding of the aquaculture industry. — DayakDaily
