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By Brad Rantayy
MIRI, June 5: The Sarawak State Farmers’ Organisation (SFO) has inked a joint venture (JV) agreement with Ning Planters Sdn Bhd to further develop Sarawak Gold Pineapple (SG1) by supplying certified pineapple suckers to smallholders.
The JV between the two entities would involve the planting of SG1 (Registered number AC16) pineapple at Jalan Tukau Bakam here.
Witnessing the JV signing ceremony here today was Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom and Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau.
SFO was represented by its general manager Gom Raway, while Ning Planters Sdn Bhd was represented by Dato’ Yap Foot Loy.
“This JV is to make sure they can sustain and develop the industry besides creating a complete industry chain and increasing production volume in order to meet demand,” said Dr Rundi.
He also emphasied the important of changing mindsets to boost agriculture output.
“We need to convert our farmers into agriculture players in order to expedite and transform Sarawak’s agricultural activities,” he told a group of local media after witnessing the signing of the JV.
The JV will kick-off with its first project in the commercial planting of SG1 in a plot of land in Tukau this month, with a total of 100 acres and planting area measuring approximately 80 acres.
The completion date for the planting of pineapple suckers is by July next year with the first batch of certified suckers to be ready for sale to smallholders by August 2024.
Ning Planters Sdn Bhd will also provide technical expertise and assistance to local farmers to plant and develop SG1 pineapple. — DayakDaily
