By DayakDaily Team
SPAOH, Dec 5: Bukit Saban is set to become a major food-producing hub in Sarawak, with an allocation of RM60 million from the Betong Division Development Agency (BDDA) announced for next year, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
Uggah, also Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) said the funds would support various agricultural and industrial initiatives, including oil palm, pepper, paddy, fruit and vegetable farming, poultry and pig rearing, and cottage industries like baking and Baju Kebaya embroidery.
“Our people (of Bukit Saban) must be guided to seize the opportunities given for those activities of their choice,” said Uggah during a meeting with Bukit Saban’s Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) branch committee members at Rumah Mendit Unsu in Penom.
A key part of the transformation was the RM17 million Collecting, Processing, and Packaging Centre (CPPC) in Bebuling, which is nearing completion.
Uggah revealed that facilities such as drying, packing, and deep-freezing machines were being procured.
With the Bebuling STOLport expected to be operational by August 2025, the CPPC will enable faster transportation of finished products to external markets.
Agencies like the Farmer’s Organisation also pledged to assist in marketing efforts.
To modernise farming practices, Uggah said concepts like fertigation and hydroponics would become a focus, with training planned at the Bebuling Agropark. The park includes 65 hectares of greenhouses and 300 hectares for other farming uses.
“We hope to train farmers in these modern concepts (fertigation and hydroponics) at the Bebuling Agropark,” Uggah added.
He stressed that it was critical that farmers become successful in their endeavours so they can increase their income.
During the visit, Uggah also inspected ongoing infrastructure projects, including the 107m Sungai Paku Bridge that cost RM36 million which is now at 41 per cent completion and ahead of schedule, and the RM500,000 access road upgrade at SK Paku Sentral.
The Sungai Paku bridge is expected to be completed on October 2025, but Uggah expressed hope for an earlier completion in August 2025. — DayakDaily
