BETONG: Layar assemblyman Gerald Rentap Jabu is encouraging farmers here not only to plant long-term crops but also crops that can generate speedy income.
He revealed yesterday he had asked the communities in his constituency to produce an iconic product within two years.
“In today’s digital world, reasons such as not having enough land, no knowledge about agriculture and having no budget and so on is not acceptable.
“Let’s take Singapore as an example where the people are actively involved in the agricultural sector even with limited space through hydroponic and by other means,” he said during officiating the fruit and pineapple breeding course organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) here in the Betong Division yesterday.
According to him, in Sarawak, the state government under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leadership has intensified the agricultural sector through modern technology.
“We (the state government) are actively offering various courses besides providing funds,” he explains. He also added, “I hope that the 47participans that are already enrolled in the current courses provided can leverage the knowledge gained to increase their income and share it with other members of the community.
“Therefore, the younger generation in Betong should seize this opportunity as Betong has been selected to be Sarawak’s food basket by 2030 in addition to the Bukit Sadok Agropolitan project which is expected to provide huge employment (agricultural) opportunities.”
“Such opportunities should be taken seriously as the Ministry of Modernization of Agriculture, Indigenous Land and Regional Development (Manred) this year has allocated RM797 million for agricultural development in addition to many projects in this budget including the Agriculture Fair Fund (AFF) besides aquaculture, modern agriculture, livestock and so on, “he said.
Also present were KBS Office Superintendent of Betong Sain Clerk, Sri Aman KBS Office Superintendent Awang Mazelan Awang Majid and Betong District Officer Christina Peter.
