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PUTATAN: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman wants agricultural expos
to be held in all districts in Sabah as a platform to expose local
farmers to the latest development in the sector.
Such events, he
said, could help in disseminating information on new findings that could
be applied by the agriculture communities to improve their income and
help retain the sector as one of the major economic earners for the
state.
Speaking at the launch of Putatan Agricultural Expo 2012
here yesterday, Musa said the agriculture sector had been identified as
one of the major focuses under the state’s development Halatuju launched
in 2003, alongside the tourism and manufacturing sectors.
Apart
from reducing dependency on imported food products, further development
of this sector would also help improve the income of Sabahans, he said.
“I
believe the expo here today would benefit the target group and everyone
involved … And I am confident that with the cooperation of all parties
in this district, it will propel the growth of the agriculture and
agro-based industry not only here locally but in the whole state, and
make us a major food producer in the country.
“This is why I must
propose that the ministry (of agriculture and food industry) expands
this event to other districts so that agricultural potential of each
district can be fully developed and utilized,” he said.
Musa
stressed that it was the hope of the state government that farmers,
breeders and fishermen communities across Sabah continue to improve
themselves by incorporating new technologies into their operations.
By
doing so, he said they would be able to significantly improve their
output and revenues and prove the old perception that agriculture is a
low income industry for the poor, is wrong.
“Agriculture could be a lucrative business if done right,” Musa asserted.
Met
after the launching, he said many agricultural development projects and
programmes had been successfully implemented in Sabah and had greatly
benefited farmers and local agro-based businesses.
As such, Musa,
who is also State Finance Minister, said he would request the federal
government to provide more allocations to fund similar projects in the
future.
The state government, he added, would also implement more
programmes aimed at encouraging more people to participate and benefit
from the sector, and promote awareness that agriculture is a lucrative
industry.
“Improving the income of the farmers would translate to
improvement of the overall economy of the state … we are on the right
track to move forward,” he said.
He also said the promising
potential in agriculture, coupled with political stability and vast
fertile land in Sabah had attracted major international players to come
in and invest in the sector.
Among the latest ones, he noted, was
an American company which waslooking to develop a multi-billion fruit
planting project in Sabah.
“Apart from the lobster project that I
mentioned before this, there is also a US-based company who wants to
come in. We are currently looking for a suitable site for the project
and in discussions to find out which agency would be best to collaborate
with them.
“Many investors are coming to Sabah because they are
convinced of the political stability we have. That is why we do not
encourage street demonstration that could undermine this stability, this
will not benefit anyone,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief
Minister cum Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Yahya
Hussin in his welcoming remarks said the Integrated Agricultural Complex
in Putatan could be developed into an attractive agro-tourism
destination.
He said the complex dubbed as the ‘Green Lung of
Putatan’ could be packaged as a tourism product to attract both local
and foreign visitors.
“I was also made to understand that this
five-hectare complex will be developed as a permanent food production
park that will lead in intensive high-tech farming. This project
represents an opportunity for the local community in Putatan to venture
into this field and become agro entrepreneurs,” he added.
6 comments:
Vast fertile land in Sabah had attracted major international players to come in and invest in the agricultural sector. Through agricultural expos, local farmers will be exposed with the latest development in the sector hence can applied it in their agricultural activities.
Taman Pertanian Sabah is a visitor friendly park which offers you more than just any other parks. This is an excellent base to expand your knowledge on the taxonomy of plants that fits your taste and needs as well as the perfect escape from urban noise and pollution. This is on of the State govt agriculture efforts
Sabah is home to five of the nine species of honey bees found in the world. The Bee Centre and Museum is a place where you can find them. There are also exhibits of equipment used in honey extraction and you can watch honey bees working in their hives up close. There is an orchard of food plants for the honey bees in the Bee Centre and Museum where you may want to take a walk.
Indeed, me gusta. Sabah have a lot of fertile land that is suitable for plantation and agriculture activities. Combined with sunshine and rain all year round, this is a good balance for food production. A major U.S company- DOLE might be investing in Sabah.
Smookiekins, The Bee Centre is an interesting place to get to know more about the various types of bees and honey production. I have the chance to visit there during a school field trip once and its a good experience.
Thanks to the Sabah State Governemnt on the establishment of the Taman Pertanian Sabah, through this park we can learn more about agriculture and flora species.
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