By Jacob Achoi
BAU, Oct 24: About 95 acres of land involving three villages namely Kpg Daun Nyori, Kpg Senibong and Kpg Tanjong Bowang in the Singai area will be planted with ‘Pisang Kapok’ banana variety.
According to Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep, the acreage is under Phase I for the crop planting.
He said the planting of the crop involves more than 50 farmers from the three villages that will produce about 712 tons of the banana a year.
“In the Singai area, more than 70 percent of the land has been gazetted and issued individual titles under Section 18 (of Sarawak Land Code) over the past 10 years.
“And to make the people in the area make full use of the land, we are embarking on the planting of ‘Pisang Kapok’ as the anchor crop to increase the income of the people,” Henry said at the Agriculture Community Outreach Programme (AgriCOP) event officiated by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas at Dewan Singai near here today.
The ceremony also includes the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the three villages with Agro Kenyalang, the anchor company which is tied with a company in Kuala Lumpur that will buy the banana.
Henry said the planting of banana will be extended to Jagoi and Bratak areas in the constituency to uplift the socio economic of the people.
He added that farmers in the area who grow the crop will earn about RM712,500 annually once production start in 10 or 12 months.
Henry further said that ‘Pisang Kapok’ was in high demand.
According to him, he was made to understand that the company in Kuala Lumpur, which is tying up with Agro Kenyalang needs about 50 tons a week.
At the ceremony, Henry also received RM1.1 million allocation from Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) presented by Uggah, who is Minister in charge.
Department of Agriculture director Dr Alvin Chai earlier said for Kuching, 32 AgriCOP have been planned this year.
So far, 21 sessions have been carried out, including eight sessions in Mambong, three in Serembu and two in Tasik Biru.
He also said the department will continue to assist the farmers in the area with the planting of banana.
“For us in the department, we will continue to help, so I hope that the farmers here (in Singai) can approach us for assistance,” he added.
Present were Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh, Bau district officer Anielia Siam and State Veterinary Services Department director Dr Adrian Susin Ambud, among others. —DayakDaily
