KUCHING, Dec 4: More agricultural activities are being planned while many are now implemented to ensure the Bebuling Airport will have full cargoes to fly within two years when it is ready.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said other relevant infrastructures are also being readied.
According to Uggah, the RM108 million airport will be the ideal exit point for products from the greater Betong-Mukah Food Basket area and the Bukit Sadok Food Agropolitan and Batang Ai areas.
“Batang Ai is noted for its tilapia fish exported to Singapore. In addition, there are also the Betong Industrial Park and the proposed Bebuling and Lubok Tamang Agroparks.
“These are new models where we will bring in the anchor farmers who are the agropreneurs. They are experienced and have the modern technology to process and pack food to meet stringent international food safety standards to export.
“More important, they have established their overseas market links,” he told the media after launching the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (FAMA) direct-from-farm programme at the Spaoh Waterfront here today.
Uggah, who is also the Minister of Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land, and Regional Development, said local youths would be invited to participate.
He said steps too would be intensified to get farmers and breeders to increase their productivity through modern agricultural practices.
“Then we would guide them on getting the good quality ones as well. By doing so, they can generate more income to raise their standard of living,” he added.
At the same time, he also requested FAMA to increase the number of its contract farmers here.
On another matter, he said a modern abattoir is also on the list of the new projects in Spaoh.
“We are talking to the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA), and they are now embarking on cattle breeding in a number of its oil palm plantations.
“So with all these, when the airport is ready, the products will be ready too,” he said. ― DayakDaily
