By Wilfred Pilo
BAU,August 3: Tasik Biru assemblyman Dato Henry Harry Jinep has urged local homestay and agriculture industry players especially in the rural areas to tap into the huge tourism and food markets.
He emphasised that the state government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports (MTACYS) and the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development (MANRED) can assist the rural communities in promoting and selling the tourism and food products to the domestic and international markets.
“We have the products here but we need someone to promote, market and commercialise them, and to help boost the local economy,” he said before unveiling the new Kampung Badul’s logo and launching its Weekend Market at the Badul Homestay near Kampung Atas in Singgai here today.
“There are also plenty of agriculture products that can be sold and this is where the MTACYS and MANRED can work and synergise their efforts in assisting the local and rural community here,” he added.
However, Henry pointed out that improving the road infrastructure in this area to enable more lands to be opened up was crucial for the growth of the agriculture and tourism sectors in rural areas.
“Bau has been identified as a food basket in the Bidayuh Belt’ stretching from Lundu to Serian. The government is giving focus in this sector to help rural community thrive and in turn close the economic gap between urban and rural areas,” he said.
On the weekend market, he commended Badul Homestay for the initiative to benefit the villagers as the stalls will offer local produce from the village.
He also urged villagers to bring back Singgai’s durian which was very popular in the past.
“We have already identified 600 trees which just need to be rehabilitated by giving them fertiliser. It is better than Musang King because Singgai’s durian is cheaper and the fruit last longer as well,” he added.
“Our land here is fertile and suitable for many kinds of cash crops while domestic animals can be reared and breed. The rural community should strengthened their efforts to benefit and bring out its full potential,” he encouraged.
As for the new logo, Henry praised village head Jetri Suing and the Village Security and Safety Committee (JKKK) for their efforts to enhance their socio-economic development of the village.
Kampung Badul, located in the vicinity of Kampung Atas in Singgai, Bau, is a new village that was established in 2016. Currently, there are 71 families with 230 people living in the village. — DayakDaily
