By Christopher Lidom and Chris Bishop
KUCHING, Jan 21: The Sarawak government’s Biris rice cultivation research conducted in Gedong has the potential to increase the income of local farmers by as much as three times their current amount.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said there has already been success in research which was conducted at the main campus’ laboratory.
“If this field lab is successful, it will be a template for other places, including in the Sri Aman area,” he said during a press conference held after visiting the project site at Jalan Lubok Teranggas to Kampung Gedong and the Mini Isthmus Gedong project site, in Gedong today.
He added, at the moment, the average income for local farmers is between RM1,500 to RM2,000 based on the current situation.
“If it is times three (based on three times more harvest), their income will be about RM6,000, in theory,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari said Sarawak can also become a big rice producer in the country, apart from Kedah.
He pointed out that in order to do that, there is a need to use new agricultural technology instead of doing it the old way.
“We do respect the old way, which depends on the belief such as paddy spirits and many other factors, but now, the technology is there and we tweak it a little,” he said. — DayakDaily
