KUCHING: The Sarawak government has allocated RM87 million to the Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development Ministry (MANRED) recently to allow it to continue existing and new agricultural development programmes.
Its Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the amount included RM50 million for its Agriculture Facilitation Fund, which would allow the ministry to develop more fruit and vegetables fertigation, breeding, inland fishery and other programmes and activities for the people.
"It is the government's objective for the rural people to be quality and quantity food producers to allow them to generate stable income.
"This is in line with the state's agenda to be a net food and food products exporter by the year 2030," he said at the launch of a community policing course for 55 longhouse chiefs here yesterday.
Uggah, who is also the deputy chief minister, said more supporting programmes like the setting up of food terminals and Collecting, Processing and Collecting Centres (CPPC) and other facilities are also in the pipeline.
In addition, the Area Farmer's Organisation will continue to buy any surplus products from farmers.
"The Agriculture Department will continue to guide farmers in using modern technologies," he said.
Uggah also visited a seed farm enterprise, the Green World Genetics (GWG) Debak Station at Simpang Debak nearby.
The GWG is a research and development company based in Kuala Lumpur which specialises in the breeding, production and marketing of high quality tropical hybrid seeds.
It engages with foreign breeders from the USA, China, Thailand, India and Mexico in seed research and development. It currently exports its seeds to the Asia Pacific Region, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America countries.
Uggah said the branch is now doing research and development on 102 different varieties of paddy planted on a 1.5-hectare plot there.
"We will introduce and promote to our local farmers those varieties that are most promising and increase the seed production. Our main average production is between one to two tons per season."
"The company has varieties that are able to produce eight tons per season but these are planted under controlled environment," he said, adding the company was also doing similar researches and developments on papaya and maize.