State to collaborate with former officers to boost agriculture sector
KUCHING: The state government is looking to the expertise of its former officers to help spur the agriculture sector.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said for the state to become a net exporter of food product by 2030, it needs to dig deep into its resources, one of which is the expertise of its many officers who have retired from the state civil service.
Describing these retirees as “veterans”, he said some of them retired as agriculture department directors and senior officers, thus have vast experience and knowledge of how they can help prop the agriculture sector.
Uggah, who is also the Modernisation of Agriculture Native Land and Regional Development Minister, made this remark when he was guest-of-honour of Sarawak Agriculture Veterans Association (SAVA) 7th anniversary reunion dinner at Sarawak Club Saturday.
“Most of you here are experts in agriculture, please do assist us in our journey towards achieving Sarawak’s vision,” he said to loud applause.
Uggah said he would make arrangement for his ministry and SAVA to meet “once a week or once a month” to discuss how they can strengthen the roles of the current agriculture extension officers.
“Apart from your experience, I must also convey my appreciation on behalf of the rural population for your contributions towards eradicating poverty in the rural areas,” he said.
He said according to data recorded in the 1970, the poverty level in Sarawak was 59 per cent, and this has dropped to one per cent last year.
“This tremendous success owes much to your role in developing agriculture in rural areas,” he said, adding that rural development has helped to improve the livelihood of the people.
“As agriculture officers, you have taught and guided many farmers who are successful today and earning good incomes.
“Many of them are doing well as smallholders engaged in oil palm, pepper, and rubber. And I know of some who are already millionaires today.
“There are a lot of success stories that all of you should be proud of, because they are the products of your blood, sweat and tears all those years,” he pointed out.
Uggah also said his ministry was looking forward to working with SAVA to produce a book that would document the many success stories in the agriculture sector.
He said the book should be completed in time for its launch during the Agro Fest in September.
“Actually this idea is from Yang Amat Berhormat Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg). He wants to tell the people that there is potential in this sector, which is a new found wealth.
“And yes, this is not a fiction, but a reality,” he said, adding that the ministry will finance the book.
On top of that, Uggah also announced an allocation of RM50,000 for SAVA’s upcoming pictorial coffee table book.
The association also received another RM30,000 from Uggah, which it will use to carry out its activities.
Meanwhile, SAVA president Robert Josem said the association was looking forward to working with the state government in their area of expertise.
“The retired agriculture officers are very knowledgeable, what we can do to assist the present agriculture department is to conduct a “farmer to farmer programme” which we used to do last time.
“The ones who are retired and have their own farms now will serve as farmers’ training ground for all serving agriculture officers,” he said.
On the book, Robert said: “A lot of things are lying around and have not been put into perspective, so we want the younger generation to read and understand how agriculture was developed through this book.”
