By Jacob Achoi
BAU, Dec 14: Two mega agricultural projects, involving padi planting and cattle rearing, will kick-start in Serembu area next year.
The planting of padi will receive the first allocation of RM500,000 for drainage system while the total cost of cattle rearing is about RM1.5 million.
This was disclosed by Serembu assemblyman, Miro Simuh, who pointed out that the site of both projects have been identified.
“For padi planting, an area of 600 acres in Kpg Sega and Kpg Peninjau Lama and Baru have been earmarked for the crop and the first and second phase of development will include developing drainage system and land clearing,” he said, adding that it would involve the villagers of both kampungs.
“And when implemented, it will become the first padi planting on a large scale in Bau district.
“For cattle rearing, an area of about 120 acres at Kpg Merembeh has been identified to involve 32 participants,” he told reporters today after officiating at the closing ceremony of Agriculture Community Outreach Programme (AgriCOP) at Kpg Kandis Lama, near here.
Explaining on the cattle rearing project, Miro said 100 heads of cattle will be reared at the initial stage and expected to multiply to 600 or 700 heads in three years’ time.
He pointed out that Indian Napier grass, which has a high protein content will be planted to feed the cattle.
Miro added that the Department of Agriculture will provide five kilograms of ‘Bentong’ ginger to 120 participants of AgriICOP next year.
“Actually we started (agriculture activities) quite late, about three years back, but it is good to note that the people are accepting it as their main activities,” he stressed.
Earlier in his speech, he said more courses related to agriculture will be held in the area in the future to disseminate modern agriculture technology to the farmers. — DayakDaily
