KAPIT, Sept 28: The Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development has allocated RM4 million for agricultural development in Kapit division.
Its Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said that RM2 million will be for the implementation of fertigation smart farming, while the other RM2 million will be for the provision of Musang King seedlings.
On fertigation system, he explained that it would be introduced and promoted to more areas statewide next year as it is the government’s hope that more people would accept and embrace it to help increase the state’s food production.
“This is a clean, trendy system. It does not need much labour or land. Applied with the IoT (Internet of Things), it is known for its superior productivity,” he said when launching the Kapit AgroFest 2019 here today.
“A sum of RM2 million has been approved to introduce the system to Kapit and the task will be undertaken by Upper Rejang Development Authority (URDA) Taskforce Committee under Kapit MP Datuk Alexander Nanta,” he added.
Uggah, who is the Deputy Chief Minister, said he was confident that when more farmers and agropreneurs here took up fertigation, they could help to produce more vegetables and fruits to meet local consumption and overseas demand.
As for the RM2 million worth of Musang King seedlings for farmers in Kapit division, he pointed out that a Collecting, Processing and Packaging Centre (CPPC) would be set up to buy any excess durian from the farmers in the division.
“We plan to sell 200 tonnes of durian paste to China this year. The Chinese’ demand for durian is insatiable,” he said.
In this regard, he added that his ministry would organise a Durian Maintenance and Rehabilitation Course here next year to give training to local farmers.
“When you take good care of your trees, you can expect more bountiful harvest and this has been proven,” he said.
This year’s Agrofest, which started on Sept 27 until tomorrow, is the fourth one held this year. It was earlier held in Limbang, Miri and Bintulu.
The Agrofest was organised to introduce various development programmes of the state government, besides promoting agricultural activities such as fishery and breeding. It was also to assist in marketing downstream products as well as modern and commercial farming.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing is expected to officiate at the closing of the event tonight.— DayakDaily
