Owners must develop farmlands themselves or risk losing their plots
KUCHING: Agropreneurs who take the easy way out by subletting or subcontracting out their farmland given under the Taman Pengeluaran Makanan Kekal (TKPM) or Permanent Food Production Park scheme risk losing their land.
The warning came from Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas who said TKPM farming plots should be developed by the owners themselves.
“The plots must be developed by the Agropreneurs themselves or else their farming right will be revoked,” he said after visiting the Semenggok TKPM here, yesterday.
Action will be taken against those who are not serious in developing their plots.
“The core objective of these parks is to produce food in dedicated areas. The objective must be upheld and enhanced,” he added.
Uggah, who is a Deputy Chief Minister, said there are now 12 such parks in Sarawak and steps would be taken to improve them in terms of infrastructure to make them more conducive to their purpose.
“During my visit to Semenggok, I found that there are issues that had to be rectified. I am sure these issues also apply to the other parks.
“I have directed the Agriculture Department to look into them and to ensure there are sufficient resources for their maintenance.
“I also want the department to ensure that selected agropreneurs carry out their programmes properly,” he said.
On the other hand, Uggah was glad to note that the Semenggok Park, covering an area of 52 hectares, had attracted young agropreneurs.
“Today I met three of them below 35 years of age. They are among the 10 participants there. This is very encouraging,” he said.
Uggah was accompanied by the Agriculture Department director Dr Alvin Chai and a political secretary to the chief minister Dr Richard Rapu during the visit.
Later, he also visited the Semenggok Inland Fishery Research Station.
“I have directed the station to focus on research (and production) on ornamental fish. There are big markets overseas. In particular I want them to look at some of the beautiful native species that we have like the arowana,” he said.
Uggah said an incubator would be set up there to develop potential exporters.
On the “tagang” fish conservation programme, he said more would be established statewide. At the moment the programme is found in more than 77 places.
“This programme is to ensure the continued survival of indigenous fish in our rivers. It will control destructive fishing methods like fish bombing, electrocution and poisoning.
“Thus, it is also good for the environment and of course tourism to enable the rural folk to earn some income, like what is happening in Sabah,” Uggah said.
He added that Sarawak with its many pristine rivers has very good “tagang” potential.
“It is our hope that more people would participate in it,” he said.
