BETONG: The fertigation garden for demonstration purpose at SMK Spaoh is in its final stage of construction in Spaoh.
It is the brainchild of Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas who is also the Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister.
Speaking after checking on its progress yesterday, he said the garden was part of the precision agriculture that the state was introducing in its effort to modernise the sector.
“We deliberately put it in SMK Spaoh so that students there can understand what it is all about.
“Members of the public in Spaoh, too, will be able to see the system for themselves and to study it thoroughly.
“We do hope that it will be of great interest to farmers because we really want to encourage
them to depart from their traditional ways of planting fruits and vegetables,” Uggah said.
He revealed tht the Agriculture Department might introduce the hydroponic system within the garden as a possible option.
“Farmers can then decide which system they prefer. Both systems are very relevant to those with limited lands. Besides, they also require less manpower.
“I hope this demonstration farm, which cost us about RM100,000 to build, can attract and generate sufficient interest among our farmers for them to migrate to modern agriculture,” he said.
Uggah believed that modern farming was the future for the state’s farmers.
“They can be very successful with the right advice and guidance and the right attitude,” he pointed out, adding planting in the garden was expected to begin next month.
“We will go into golden rock melon cultivation to begin with. Our garden, with its four netted shelters, can accommodate some 500 points or bags,” he said.
Uggah went on to disclose that more demonstration gardens would be constructed state-wide next year to popularise the two systems
On the garden at Simpang Layar, Betong, Uggah said it was in the final stage of construction while for the one in Sibu, Education,Science and Technological Research assistant minister Dr Annuar Rapaee had introduced the open type of fertigation system.
A political secretary to the chief minister Dr Richard Rapu and the principal of SMK Spaoh Muhamad Rais were among those accompanying Uggah during the visit.
