KUCHING: The Ministry of Modernization of Agriculture and Regional Development Sarawak wants to promote, facilitate and develop the sago and nipah industries as a new frontier to maximise economic returns and increase smallholders’ income.
Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi said that with this objective, hence the Sago and Nipah Development Board (SNDB) Bill, 2022 is being initiated.
Another objective of the Bill, he said, is to formulate strategic objectives, policies and priorities for the orderly development and administration of both sago and nipah in Sarawak.
“The Bill, when passed, its areas of jurisdiction cover all activities in the upstream and downstream of the sago industry and nipah industry including the planting of sago and nipah palms, the processing and utilsation of sago and nipah, the production of sago starch and nipah sap and the manufacturing of sago products and nipah products and its derivatives, and any services related thereto.
“All these activities will be regulated by the implementation of registration and licensing scheme and enforcement activities,” he said when tabling the Bill at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting here today.
He said that the new law will come into force as soon as the regulatory structure for the board is established and once its manpower is recruited.
“One important aspect of this legislation is the central role of SNDB, as a stewardship of the industries, to assist the government in its planning to ensure the future viability and sustainability of the sago and nipah industries in the state,” he said.
Rundi said that he is optimistic that with the establishment of this Bill, the implementation of all government initiatives and development programme will be more focused, effective and efficient.
“This will lead to the increase in productivity, adoption of new technologies and promote orderly development of upstream and downstream sectors, particularly in executing and promoting of these commodities and its related activities for the smallholders in Sarawak,” he said.
He added that it could also help the state to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 that focuses on food security and SDG14 that leads to conserving and sustainable use of our natural resources for an ultimate sustainable development of our sago and nipah industries.
