THE state government is urged to promote Adan rice, which originates from Ba’Kelalan, and to implement programmes to encourage farmers to produce the rice.
Ba’Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian, who made the call, said that agriculture was an important economic activity for the people in his constituency as they had the most fertile land in Sarawak.
“Looking at downstream processing such as producing drinks, breakfast cereals, baby food, rice milk and other products will be one way of encouraging farmers to produce the rice,” he said in his debate speech for the Head of State address at DUN sitting today.
“Our black and red rice is rich in nutrients and anti-oxidants,” he explained.
Baru added that in Thailand, rice was used to produce various skincare and beauty products, as well as medical materials such as sponges and wound dressing patches.
“We should look at doing the same here with our Adan rice. I request the government to focus on rice production, processing and marketing in Ba’ Kelalan, as that will improve the livelihood of the people.
“Growing rice is second nature to us, and with some encouragement from the government, it can become a major economic activity for the region and Nusantara is just next door to Ba’Kelalan,” he said.
Earlier on, Baru questioned whether the tendering project for Phase 2 of the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) had been done.
“If not, when is it expected to be tendered?,” he asked.
He said that in July last year, Senior Works Minister, now Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof announced that Phase 2 of the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) had been approved and work was expected to begin in 2023.
“This is good news to all Sarawakians especially those who live up north as that is the nearest point of entry into and exit from Nusantara.
“I understand that this Phase 2 will first connect Long Luping to Buduk Nur and to the border entry into Kalimantan and also from Long Luping junction to Berunut and to Rh Aling in Limbang.
“It is timely to complete the road connectivity, especially in view of the expected boost in economic activities due to the move of the Indonesian capital to Nusantara.
“Thus, I would like to know if these alignments I said earlier are correct for this Phase 2 of this SSLR and how much budget is expected for the project,” he said.
