By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Feb 16: The Sago and Nipah Development Board Bill, 2022 has been passed in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.
Once the bill is gazetted, the regulatory body known as the Sago and Nipah Development Board (SNDB) will be established and the new law will come into force.
SNDB under the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development will function to promote, facilitate and develop Sarawak’s sago and nipah industries as new frontiers to maximise economic returns and increase smallholders’ income.
The Board will also formulate strategic objectives, policies and priorities for the orderly development and administration of both the sago and nipah industries.
SNDB’s jurisdiction will encompass all upstream and downstream activities in the sago and nipah industries including the planting, processing and utilisation of sago and nipah, production of sago starch and nipah sap, and manufacturing of sago and nipah products and their derivatives.
The bill was tabled and read by the Minister of Agriculture Modernisation and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
During his speech, he said the bill was long-overdue as the nipah and sago industries have been seeing declines in production and income due to competition from other crops such as oil palm, pepper and rubber.
Lack of control and regulations within the industries, and industry players operating in unorganised and fragmented segments have also contributed to the current scenario.
“Though long-overdue, it is timely to set up a body to oversee all operations in the nipah and sago industries,” said Dr Rundi. — DayakDaily
