Uggah: Rural folks must persevere to reap rewards of agricultural undertakings

Uggah (second left) with Chuat (left) presenting cheques to TR Nala.

KUCHING, May 28: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas reminded rural folks to persevere and be determined in order to translate their chosen agricultural undertakings into success.

Uggah, who is also Bukit Saban assemblyman, said they should not be easily discouraged by any challenges or problems, especially at the onset.

“Many had complained of the high costs of fertiliser and animal feed. Some had even complained that monkeys were a great nuisance.

“But those who had persevered, for instance, in planting oil palm and pepper, are now earning very good income where oil palm fresh fruit bunches are currently sold for RM1,300 per ton,” he said in a statement today.

Uggah said this during a ceremony to present his annual state grants to longhouse development and security committees and Women Bureaus from 94 longhouses in his Bukit Saban constituency held at Rh Mendit Unsu in Penom, today.

During the ceremony, Betong MP Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat also gave away grants from his parliamentary fund.

Uggah reiterated, Spaoh area had been identified as part of the Bukit Sadok Agropolitan and the Betong/Mukah food basket area.

He also said it is for this reason too that the government has decided to build the RM108 million Bebuling STOLport (short take-off and landing airport).

“It has great confidence in the area as a food producing area.

“The people should do their part by participating in the activities of their choice to generate income,” he added.

Meanwhile, Chuat in his speech earlier called on the people to continue to abide by the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the fight against Covid-19 during the coming Gawai celebrations.

He said in their eagerness to celebrate after not celebrating as they used to do for the past two years, they should not throw caution to the wind. — DayakDaily