KUCHING: Thirty-one projects under the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA) for Mambong constituency will focus on agriculture and tourism development.
Deputy Minister for Transport (Road and Aviation), Datuk Dr Jerip Susil expressed his desire for Mambong to be a coffee belt for the whole of Sarawak, with the focus on group coffee cultivation and establishment of coffee collection centre worth RM8 million in Bayur Rural Growth Centre (RGC).
He encourages local farmers to cultivate the Liberica coffee variety which can only be found in Sarawak and wants the state to be the main producer of Liberica coffee for Malaysia and the whole world.
On paddy, he said the agency will look into a pilot project in Kampung Batu Gong and heirloom paddy (padi bukit) production in Kampung Bengoh.
“That’s why we are working on the paddy collection centre in Bengoh which will be implemented from 2024 to 2025,” he said.
Dr Jerip, who is also Mambong assemblyman, was speaking at the GKCDA Mambong project briefing at a hotel here.
Touching on tourism, he said Mambong is blessed with natural resources and also listed in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Geopark.
“There are 45 beautiful caves and 48 waterfalls as well as the Bengoh Dam in Mambong constituency.
“We will enhance all these infrastructures to entice more visitors where everyone can benefit from the economic spill over as well,” he said.
Citing Siniawan Old Town as an example which retains its wooden shop house buildings and attracted so many visitors, Dr Jerip said Annah Rais longhouse has the same potential, in which he assured that the longhouse’s infrastructure will be enhanced as well.
“This is the only Bidayuh longhouse near the city. We want the visitors to experience for themselves life in the longhouse.
“Therefore, the people in Annah Rais must be prepared and engage with us in order to understand the overall plan to boost the tourism sector,” he said.
At the event, Dr Jerip presented Minor Rural Project (MRP) grants to 16 recipients amounting to RM371,600.
Also present were GKCDA special officer Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik, Bidayuh Temenggong for Kuching Division Datuk Austin Dimin Niyon and GKCDA Mambong coordinator James Sinjeng.
