BETONG, Nov 2: The Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development (Manred) has plans to create and introduce more income generating activities and programmes to ensure sustainable livelihoods for farmers in the 2020 State Budget.
Declining to elaborate on the details of the proposals, its minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas however highlighted that among the activities was getting farmers to diversify their crops.
“Just wait for YAB Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari (Tun Openg) and myself to announce our respective proposals and plans,” he told the media after officiating at Petronas Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project at SK St John at Nanga Tiga in Ulu Layar near here today.
Pepper, rubber and oil palm farmers had suffered when the price of the commodities dropped in the market, while fishermen could not go out to the sea during the ‘landas’ (monsoon) season, he noted.
“All these groups must have alternative activities in order to ensure uninterrupted income flow,” he said.
Meanwhile, Uggah commended Petronas for coming up with its CSR project in rural schools in the state which will in turn give boost to the government’s efforts in improving and upgrading some 1,000 dilapidated schools.
For SK St John, Petronas had spent more than RM1 million on upgrading the boarding house, science laboratory, toilets and other facilities.
“As far as SK St John is concerned, it is like a dream comes true for Betong MP Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat and myself.
“This is because the school is a mission school and we have been chipping in now and then to help improve its facilities,” he said.
But the more significant thing about this function, he pointed out was that it presented to the ordinary rural folks that rural students who have the determination, discipline and who take their studies seriously can do very well in life.
Uggah was referring to Mohamed Syawan Abdullah @ Laga Jenggi, who is the managing director and chief executive officer of Petronas LNG 9 Sdn Bhd and Malaysia LNG Group of Companies.
Mohamad Syawan, who was present at the function, is an Iban from Ulu Roban and had spent his childhood at his longhouse.
“He and a few others can be role models for rural students,” he said.
Uggah added that beginning next year, more motivational courses would be organised for rural students here in the efforts to spur them toward educational excellence.
He further advised parents to continue to send their children to boarding schools where the atmosphere would be more conducive for them to do well in their studies
Chuat and a political secretary to the Chief Minister Dr Richard Rapu were among those present.— DayakDaily
