KUCHING: The establishment of the Sago and Nipah Development Board will provide more business opportunities as well as empowering small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) in the sago and nipah industry.
In supporting the Sago and Nipah Development Bill, 2022, Lingga assemblywoman Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor said this is in line with the state government’s manifesto for Sarawak to be a high income state by 2030.
“With the establishment of the board, it is expected to oversee the welfare, management and the development of the sago and nipah industry.
“This will also be a platform for rural people in the industry to gain job opportunities in developing their livelihood and have high income.
“Through this board, our food industry will be known across countries and it will be a better future for Sarawak,” said Noorazah when debating on the Bill at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) on Wednesday (Feb 16).
She hope that there will be other potential markets that can be explored in order to sustain and enhances the value market for sago and nipah.
“As Beting Maro (Razaili Gapor) and Balingian (Abdul Yakub Arbi) mentioned, sago and nipah received many demands from Peninsular Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan.
“Hopefully with that, there are potential markets to sustain and enhance the value market of sago and nipah.
“At the same time, the board can create a platform for research and development (R&D) to introduce fast growing and maturing sago breeding methods in the course of three years,” she said.
Noorazah noted that exploration of nipah palm tree areas in the state should be expanded in an effort to preserve and maintaining the nipah palm trees as well as to improve the quality of nipah product and the income of coastal river communities.
