KAPIT: Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit Unyat recently paid a visit to Lulut’s livestock farm at Jalan Ulu Yong here.
This was his third visit to the farm since becoming an elected people’s representative.
Accompanying him for the visit were the permanent secretary to Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development (Manred) Edwin Abit who led the senior officers from both Manred and State Agriculture Department for a two-day working visit to Kapit. Among the senior officials from MANRED was its permanent assistant secretary Dr Gluma Saban.
The visitors toured the farm and were at close contact with the animals which were freely roaming on the land surrounded by BRC wire fencing.
Jamit disclosed that he was working closely with the Manred and Sarawak Agriculture Department to turn Yong basin into food basket and Agro Park.
“Yong basin has been cultivated for years with various indigenous fruits such as dabai, durian, langsat and longan (locally known as ‘isau’. With the road access like the Jalan Ulu Yong-Jalan Sungai Yong, the industrious land owners have developed their land to cultivate crops and fruit trees. Apart from crops and fruits, they are also involved in livestock farming. For example Lulut has successfully managed his farm and gradually expanding his farm,” stressed Jamit.
He was impressed with Lulut’s success in expanding his farming activity. From the initial deer farm he is now expanding into cattle, goat and pig rearing apart from aquaculture and fruit tree cultivation.
“I am optimistic that this place owned by Lulut in future to become a ‘Dabai Park’. He has cultivated few hundred trees now and is increasing. Yong here is suitable to cultivate dabai fruit because some of the best fruit grows here”, he added.
At the function, Jamit announced a grant of RM20,000.00 under his Minor Rural Project (MRP) allocation to Lulut for the purchase of farm materials such as BRC wire fencing and construction materials on the farm.
The livestock farm owned by Lulut Ipoh is located at Jalan Ulu Sungai Yong about 45 minutes’ drive from Kapit.
On the other hand, Permanent Secretary Manred Edwin Abit told that their field trip here was to meet the potential farmers and explain to them the new concept by the state government to increase food production in line with the aspiration to become the major food producer and exporter by the year 2030.
Lulut, a former longhouse chief, previously worked overseas involving oil and gas exploration.
“After retiring from overseas attached to oil gas and exploration firm I attended the various courses organised by Kapit Agriculture Department on livestock farming and inland fishery,” said Lulut.
The farm is open to the public. The entrance fee for children is RM2 while adult is charged RM3 each for a visit.