KUCHING: A total of 300 frontline workers at the Stadium Perpaduan vaccination centre (PPV) Kuching received fruits basket from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry under its Prihatin programme today (July 2).
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas thanked the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) Sarawak and the Kuching, Samarahan and Siburan Area Farmers Organisation (PPK) for the contribution.
He said the contribution would further boost the morale of the frontliners at the PPV as they have worked hard to ensure smooth implementation of the vaccine rollout programme.
“I am also happy to see the good performance from them, every day many turned up to receive the vaccines. Although in the beginning we faced many problems but now the vaccination process has improved,” he said when presenting the fruit baskets to the frontliners at Stadium Perpaduan PPV.
Commenting on the unsold agricultural produce during the current movement control order (MCO), he said similar problem was faced during the first MCO.
“My ministry (Ministry of Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development) has allocated funds to farmers associations and Fama to buy the produce from farmers.
“The produce bought can then be resold or donated. The important thing is that we ensure farmers get value for their produce,” he said.
He disclosed that the ministry had initially allocated RM1.5 million for the programme and assured that the amount would be increased if necessary. Also present at the event today were state Fama director Abdul Jaafar Lian and Sarawak Agriculture Department director Dr Alvin Chai.
