BETONG, Sept 25: Retirees are encouraged to take up modern farming using fertigation or hydroponic as the method uses less land and manpower.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas emphasised that the Ministry of Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development (MANRED) are supporting programmes under the Agriculture Facilitation Fund to assist those interested.
“These systems are very suitable for those over 60 years old. They can plant chilly or ginger.
“I am promoting agriculture among you as we want to be a net food producer and exporter by 2030,” he said when officiating at a ceremony to honour 33 retirees as well as retiring officers from the Public Work Department (PWD) from throughout the state here today.
With greater participation in the agriculture sector, Uggah said Sarawak can reduce the state trade deficit which stood at RM4 billion last year, apart from generating income for the people.
Meanwhile, Uggah noted that a number of development projects had been affected by the recent Movement Control Order (MCO) due to Covid-19 pandemic.
“People would have blamed us politicians for any delay under normal circumstances. But they had understood the situation.
“I must thank the PWD for earnestly continuing where they had stopped, for instance, in Betong Division,” he said.
He commended PWD Betong teams for raising to the occasion, repairing roads and bridges affected by the recent heavy rain, floods and landslides.
PWD Sarawak director Datu Zuraimi Sabki, in his speech read by his deputy for Corporate Affairs Wisil Lichok shared that the function was the first organised this year following the pandemic.
He praised that Uggah had done an excellent job as SDMC chairman in managing the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.
Betong Resident Friday Belik and PWD divisional engineer Chiresly Francus Kureng were among those present. — DayakDaily
