By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Feb 18: With ample idle land, it is high time for Serembu to be developed as one of the major food basket areas in Sarawak to strengthen local food economies, fulfill food security and increase access to fresh, healthy and affordable local food.
Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh emphasised that Serembu, which is only 30 minutes away from Kuching city, has great potential for agriculture and livestock farming industries that are increasingly important to ensure food safety and security for Greater Kuching itself, Sarawak and the nation as a whole.
“The broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower that you eat all come from China, not Sarawak. China with a population of 1.4 billion still manages to export food to other countries whereas Sarawak with a population of only 2.9 million cannot feed our own people.
“The same goes to the ruminant industry for meat like lamb, mutton and beef. Some of the meat that we eat now are imported from other countries,” he told reporters after briefing the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA) mini lab for N18 Serembu constituency held at a hotel here today.
Pointing out that there are ample idle lands including Native Customary Rights (NCR) land that are yet to be developed, Miro said it is timely for the stakeholders, especially the grassroots community leaders and landowners, to plan on how to develop and cultivate these lands.
“We are talking about massive commercial modern agriculture, not part time farming, that could contribute to the socio-economic development of Serembu and increase household income as Sarawak sets its sights on 2030 to become a high income region.
“We need to start ploughing our land and grab the opportunity to make Serembu the food hub that will support our local food systems and food availability, feed our own people as well as for export,” he elaborated.
While there is also a plan to set up a food production factory in Serembu, Miro however said that it is important to ensure there are sustainable raw materials before they can invite investors to operate a factory to manufacture and package products.
Given the recent success of Sarawak’s pineapple export to Singapore and a coffee plantation that has started in Serembu which is growing well and fruiting, Miro pointed out that this proved that it can be done.
“We will use this lab as the platform to get all the ideas and create plans, proposals, projects and developments (for Serembu) that will be brought to the big lab towards the end of this month. This is to make sure that Serembu will not be lagging behind in socio-economic development and in line with the Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
“We must also engage and push the local community to take active part in making Sarawak a food hub because they are the landowners. We need a special approach to convince and motivate them to get involved,” he added.
Noting the need for greater efforts and urgent actions, Miro hopes that a portion of the RM1.5 billion allocation under GKCDA can be utilised to develop Serembu’s food industry to ensure the region’s food safety and security towards the future.
Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin, GKCDA special administrative officer Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, Bau District officer Constantine Gerald David Jonas and Oddessy Palmer representing Kuching District Resident were among those present. — DayakDaily
