PUSA: The palm sugar industry at Kampung Tambak will be improved from time to time, says Agriculture Assistant Minister Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail.
According to him, the state government through the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development has provided a huge allocation for the industry’s development.
“For this year alone, a sum of RM2 mln has been spent on creating Taman Agro Nipah at Kampung Tambak, Pusa.
“As one of the ways to improve, palm sugar should be registered as the permanent property of Sarawak’s potential products, where the Department of Agriculture will manage the matter.
“Apart from that, nurseries for producing high quality palm sugar, including research and development (R&D) projects, can also be set up,” he said at a talk with palm sugar producers at Kampung Tambak yesterday.
He also welcomed a proposal requesting for road connectivity to the palm sugar processing area besides the construction of a barn and drainage system.
“We will detail this issue at the ministry level and I am confident that the Sarawak government as well as the Beting Maro assemblyman (Razaili Gapor) in particular, have their plans to assist palm sugar entrepreneurs here.
“Many plans have been set up and I am so excited because they will be managed jointly by the cooperatives.
“Kampung Tambak is lucky enough to have a lot of land and plenty of palm sugar resources,” said Abdul Rahman, who is also Bukit Kota assemblyman.
Meanwhile, a palm sugar producer, Ismail Kadir, when met by reporters, said the Kampung Tambak palm sugar producers hoped the state government would open a new palm sugar plantation.
“The existing nipah trees may not be enough for future generations.
“In Kampung Tambak, there are more than 600 acres of idle land that can potentially be developed, so we hope the government will open a new palm sugar plantation there,” he explained.
Ismail also thanked the Sarawak government for contributing towards creating and developing the palm sugar industry at Kampung Tambak.
