MIRI, July 14: Two young men did not let their lack of land stop them from starting and operating a successful crawfish farm in shop lots.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas who paid their farm a visit today, did not miss the irony.
“It is an irony. We have people with land but are keeping themselves busy fighting over ownership or to claim even bigger land.
“They fail to use such land and thus get little return. But these landless youth, they are earning good monthly income,” highlighted Uggah who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development.
Elvis Hii and Willy Sim started their company Aqua Tech Z Sarawak at the Airport Commercial Centre along Airport Road here about a year ago.
Against all odds, the duo have done so well that their success has attracted attention from Uggah, Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister Datu Penguang Manggil and Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau.
They were all impressed by what they witnessed after visiting the farm.
“I am impressed with the entrepreneurial spirit of our young people now. Quite a number of them are venturing into unconventional areas in the agricultural sector.
“They know what they are doing. They go for training and are always keeping themselves informed of any development and technology in their businesses,” Uggah added.
He observed that not having land was not a problem for the young entrepreneurs who opted to use shop lots.
According to Hii, there is good demand for crawfish fry which they sell locally.
He disclosed that they source for breeding stock from rivers in Miri division. — DayakDaily
