KUCHING: Farmers are placing high hopes that the state government would rejuvenate the rumbia industry in the small town of Mukah.
Welfare, Community, Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said with the establishment of a Sarawak Rumbia Board, the rumbia industry could be further developed.
“I believe our Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, who is also the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, will be able to enhance the sago industry here,” she said when officiating the Oya Mini Regatta here, today.
She said rumbia is the fourth largest contributor in the agriculture sector in the state, with 46,000 hectares of rumbia plantation planted in Mukah and managed by smallholder farmers.
“It is hoped that he (Uggah) will have a dialogue session with the smallholder farmers soon to discuss what can be done and what problems they are facing in their plantation,” she stressed.
She also urged the smallholder farmers to change their ways of farming to be suitable with the current agriculture trend.
“The agriculture sector today must be focused on the market, as well as be result-oriented,” she said.
On the three-day mini regatta, Fatimah said after 17 years the regatta is finally held again. It was last organised in 2002.
“This success couldn’t have been achieved without the cooperation between the government, community leaders, and the community here,” she said.
Earlier today, Fatimah also presented high achievers incentives to fifteen recipients who scored a CGPA of 3 and above.
Meanwhile, Uggah revealed that a board to look after the sago industry will be set up during his recent visit with sago smallholders in Dalat on Friday.
