BINTULU: A 50-hectare area at the Sungai Sebiew Agricultural Training Centre here will be developed into a permanent food production estate (Taman Kekal Pengeluaran Makanan — TKPM).
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said for starters, some 12 hectares of the land would be cultivated with various types of vegetables.
Uggah, who is also Minister of Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development, said the Sungei Sebiew TKPM would be developed under a new and more organised approach, similar to TKPM Rampangi and TKPM Sungai Baji.
He said this during a press conference after attending a briefing on the Agriculture Facilitation Funds with local elected representatives at the Sungai Sebiew Agricultural Training Centre here.
He said Bintulu has the potential to become a food producer due to the high demand and wide market for food crops.
TKPM is a government programme aimed at creating a permanent zone for food crop production.
The programme also encourages the involvement of agro-entrepreneurs and the private sector in food production, increasing adequate, quality and sustainable food production in the country.
Also present were Utilities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Native Laws and Customs) Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Samalaju assemblyman Majang Renggi, Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chuk Pai Ugon and Agriculture Department director Dr Alvin Chai Lian Kuet.
