BALAI RINGIN: The vast land bank available in rural areas should be used to plant staple food crops to meet the increasing demand for food supply, said assemblyman Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
He urged community leaders and village chiefs (KMKKs) to enhance the management of their Village Development and Security Committees (JKKKs) to proactively engage in planting food crops.
He said the initiative is in line with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s announcement that Sri Aman especially Gran, Stumbin, and Lingga have been earmarked as food producing division.
“I urge every party to help the government to reduce our reliance on imports like rice, which is our staple food.
“Be self-reliant and plant paddy on your own land. The government has provided subsidies to farmers for this purpose but production has not been equal,” he said when officiating at the Capacity Building For Grassroots Leaders Seminar for Balai Ringin, Pantu District 2024 at Dewan Sri Pantu here, recently.
Snowdan urged the JKKKs to carry out their responsibilities with integrity and transparency.
“The JKKK and the district office should collaborate and engage each other more often to monitor the activities and welfare of the village residents especially the drugs threats,” he added.
Meanwhile, Snowdan announced plans for a larger-scale seminar involving all JKKK members, including the secretary, treasurer, and Women’s Bureau, to enhance their knowledge and overall management skills.
During the event, 49 village heads and a chieftain received their letters of appointment from Snowdan.
Two briefings were conducted earlier, one by pharmacist Feneida Edward Gaung on drugs and prescription, and another one by Dorothy Jenny on ‘Tadbir Urus KMKK’.
Also present were Sri Aman Deputy Resident Charlie Keling and Pantu District Officer Langgong Lasam.
