KUCHING: Some RM300,000 worth of sales was recorded during a seven-day event of the fourth edition of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) Carnival Sarawak 2019 at Kuching Waterfront.
Urban Planning, Land and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh announced this when he officiated at the closing of the carnival yesterday.
“The total sales was double that of last year’s carnival … quite impressive. Of the sales this year, RM160,868 were earned by locals,” he said.
The recorded sales in 2016’s five-day carnival recorded RM73,314 with RM67,946 earned by locals.
In the 2017 and 2018 carnivals, the total sales were RM160,782 and RM91,860 respectively, out of when RM138,083 and RM60,975 were raked in by locals. The grand total for the four previous carnivals was approximately RM427,872.
Len said the carnival is an approach by FDS and the Sarawak government to elevate the rural people’s economic development and it has turned out well.
This year’s carnival was held for seven days from Aug 14 to 20 as part of the Forest Department Sarawak’s (FDS) 100th anniversary celebration to show non-timber
forest products.
He said this is in line with the state government’s emphasis on rural development to strengthen the socio-economic status of rural communities including smallholders and commodity entrepreneurs.
Consonant with the carnival’s theme, ‘Enhancing Partnership for Sustainability’, the promotion and marketing had been further enhanced by expanding the networks internationally.
“We should also extend our collaboration with Malaysian embassies so that local products can be marketed overseas.
“Not just locals participated in the carnival. There were also participants from Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Cambodia and Laos.
“Such participation can help intensify and expand the markets and promote Sarawak products to the world,” said Len.
According to him, four factors can ensure that the NTFP carnival would continue in the years to come.
The first are natural resources which should not be solely from forest pickings because they can be produced in farms and plantations. Second are product quality and methods of production. Promotion and marketing come third for which there is a need to link up with various agencies, embassies and organisations to promote and market the products, and lastly are research and development which are important to ensure that local products can be upgraded and marketed internationally.
Len also mentioned that the carnival also served as an entrepreneurship support programme to enhance the effectiveness of
assisting entrepreneurs in the production of non-timber products. Integrated programmes and assistance should also be carried out other than organising expos and exhibitions.
“It is good for participants next year to acquire specific assistance, marketing support and entrepreneurial development in a sustainable manner with relevant performance indicators,” he said.
During the closing ceremony yesterday a souvenir was presented by FDS director Hamden Mohammad to Len. This was followed by and a series of lucky draws.
Also present at the ceremony were FDS deputy director Jack Liam, Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) general manager Hashim Bojet, and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) Kuching regional manager Zainal Abidin Abdullah.
