KUC H I N G : Ministry for Modernisation of Agriculture is committed to providing greater access and higher efficiency in service delivery and transfer of technology to rural farmers to enhance them to participate effectively in commercial agriculture.

Its Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu anak Numpang said the State Government has approved RM5 million to repair and restore 18 agriculture stations and to establish another 2 new agriculture sub-stations this year.

“These stations will benefit 10,277 farm families from 429 villages or longhouses including Kapit Division,” Jabu disclosed during his winding up speech in the State Legislative Assembly here yesterday.

Jabu, who is also Minister for Rural Development, informed that 16 of these rural sub-stations would be fully completed and operational by the end of this year.

Jabu disclosed the State Government recently had further approved an additional fund of RM5 million for repairs and logistics for 28 more rural agriculture stations.

With regard to the progress of staff recruitment for the stations, he informed that 65 Agriculture Assistants had been recruited since late last year.

“Currently, they are undergoing in-house and hands-on training to equip them with the latest knowledge and technology in agriculture extension works,” said Jabu, who is also Deputy Chief Minister.

To enhance commercial agriculture, Jabu stressed that it is critical to have competent Agriculture Technicians, especially to cater for the needs of the SCORE region.

“In this regard, I have instructed the Department of Agriculture to double the student intake at the Agriculture Institute Sarawak (AIS) Semonggok.Beginning from 2012, the Institute will have an annual intake of 100 trainees,” he said, adding that based on this intake, by the year 2016, 400 competent agriculture technicians had been trained.

Fo r t h e D e p a rtment o f Agriculture to make planting materials easily available for individual farmer, Jabu informed that there are plans for the Department to produce more rubber clonal seedlings next year to cater for the needs of smallholder farmers in the rural areas.

Jabu disclosed that for this year, his Ministry , through the Department of Agriculture was allocated a sum of RM58.9 million from both State and Federal sources to implement programmes which cover crops, livestock, fisheries, support facilities and services.

To date, a total of RM38.7 million or 66 per cent had been expended.

We are confident that by the end of this year, we will be able to spend most of the allocation.

(Source: New Sarawak Tribune Online, 24 Nov 2011)