SPAOH: The Betong Division’s plan to be a major food and food products producer in the state is leveraging on a perfect start and advantages with the operations of Green World Genetics (GWG) which had set up a station in the division, three years ago.
According to Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, the top seed company from Peninsular Malaysia carried out its core business of researching, developing and producing high quality tropical fruit and vegetable seeds on a 27.59-hectare plot at Simpang Debak.
“Among the vegetables, fruits and crops that they have chosen are cucumber, long bean, papaya, corn, and paddy. The company is also marketing these seeds worldwide.
“In Betong Division and notably in Bukit Saban, we see a lot of potential in this new industry of seeds production. The market for high quality seeds is also big, and such seeds are quite costly,” he said after presenting Minor Rural Project (MRP) grants totalling RM1.1 million to various organisations, schools, and village security and development committees (JKKK) here, on Wednesday.
Betong Member of Parliament, Dr Richard Rapu who joined him also gave away grants amounting to RM87,000.
Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said, GWG would act as an anchor company for seed supply besides providing training for the related farmers involved.
“We are planning to invite our stallholders to be its contract farmers. They will sell their seeds to the company who will then process and pack them properly. This is crucial for outside markets.
“Together with the Agriculture Department here, we will identify those interested, from our local farmers. We hope to start with an initial batch of 50 this year.
“Like I have said, we are not producing these veggies, fruits and others for consumption but to produce the seeds,” he added.
On whether farmers would be receptive to this concept, the Bukit Saban assemblyman said a number of them had visited the Simpang Debak station and were mesmerised by the developments there.
Some farmers here had started their own modern agriculture endeavours with quite promising results, he said.
He further explained that GWG, which is a Malaysian owned company, had done a lot of activities in the Peninsular.
" The management has indicated to us they want to expand further in the state. We are looking at Sesang in the division, in collaboration with the Agriculture Department,” Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said. -UKASnews
