TAWAU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has commended higher learning institutions for their contributions to the people, especially those in the Bottom 40 income group, through transferring knowledge and sharing of smart technologies.
He said these institutions played a crucial role in ensuring the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan achieved its goal.
He cited the Ferti-Chillipreneur Komuniti Lestari (FCPKL) project at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sabah's Tawau campus as an example that could help realise the state government's aspiration to develop the state and its people through agriculture, one of the three main SMJ thrusts.
"Direct involvement of students as trainers can instil a modern farming mindset via agriculture transformation towards a more hi-tech, dynamic and global competitiveness.
"This coincides with the primary goal of the project, which is to use smart technologies in chili cultivation by fertigation. This project gives full emphasis to the agenda of modern agriculture by utilising database, smart agricultural technology and the Internet of Things (IPB)," he said in a statement after the presentation of the offer letter to participants of the FCPKL project at the campus here today.
Hajiji said a progressive and quality human capital was one of the factors supporting the transformation and modernisation of the agriculture industry, which boosts productivity and create a more systematic processing and marketing, as well as ensure sufficient domestic food supply and for exports.
The state government, he said, hoped the project would create an economic spill-over besides employment for the local populace and nearby areas.
The two-year programme involves 120 participants, particularly single parents, army retirees, people with special needs and unemployed graduates cultivating 40ha of land.
Hajiji commended the group of UiTM Sabah researchers under Leading Edge Technology Applications for Robust Impact (Lestari) for initiating the RM7.5 million project, which is funded by the Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development Fund (DPUB).
The university has also signed a memorandum of agreement with the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (Teraju) for strategic cooperation.
Hajiji said the state government was committed to its development agenda for the people and the state, particularly through agriculture having allocated RM561.81 million in the 2022 Budget for this sector.
Several successes have been achieved in enhancing the state's agriculture sector. Among them is the 2,000ha high-yield coconut plantation project launched in Paitan, Beluran, last March.
Once fully operational, the project, which is a high-impact investment under the SMJ plan, is expected to generate RM1.2 billion annually and provide 4,000 jobs.
"Empowerment of the Bumiputera agenda and Malaysian Family is among the major goals of the five-year 12th Malaysia Plan, targeting a 15 per cent contribution from the micro, small and medium Bumiputera enterprises to the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025.
"RM11.4 billion has been allocated in 2022 to ensure the Bumiputera empowerment agenda is given priority to narrow the gap among races in Malaysia," he said.
Of the amount, he said RM4.8 billion was set aside for implementing capacity building programme and business funding.
"These objectives are in line with the fourth and fifth plans of the Sabah Maju Jaya 1.0 to improve the people's economy and build-up human capital, especially the local community in Sabah," he said.
Present were State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong, UiTM Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Roziah Mohd Janor, Teraju chief executive officer Datuk Md Silmi Abdul Rahman, Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Nizam Titingan, Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy and Balung assemblyman Hamild @ Hamid Awang.
