For decades now, Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu has been in charge of
modernising agriculture and improving rural development, but nothing much has
changed.
KUCHING: Krian assemblyman Ali Biju has questioned the state
government’s programme to modernise agriculture and eradicate poverty in rural
areas.
Debating the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Abang Muhammad Salahuddin
Abang Barieng’s address in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting, Biju said:
“The state government has been developing large-scale plantations for
commercial crop.
“However, Bumiputera participation in agri-business does not even reach
20% and the majority of rural communities are having income below the poverty
line index of RM850 per month.
“As such, an aggressive socio-economic transformation plan is required
in rural areas.
“This transformation requires complete overhaul of agricultural
practices and construction of basic infrastructures.”
Citing the situation in the Krian constituency, Biju said the most
effective way to improve socio-economic conditions in rural communities is to
develop smallholdings of commercial crop, especially oil palm and high-yield
rubber.
“Smallholdings do not only eradicate poverty rate among rural farmers
but also reduce dependency on foreign workers in plantation, provide job
opportunities, minimise rural-urban migration, develop rural entrepreneur,
empower rural communities and provide a sense of pride to farmers through
self-reliance.
“It also helps to preserve native culture and customary practices on
their land.
“Smallholdings of four hectares of proper commercial farms can create
tremendous socio-economic change for rural households,” Biju said.
He urged the government of the day to come out with specific programme
to assist and cultivate at least four hectares per family of commercial crops,
either oil palm or rubbers.
No assistance for smallholders
He said that throughout the Krian constituency, there are many genuine
poor rural farmers interested in oil palm planting.
“However, a lot of their applications for assistance to MPOB [Malaysian
Palm Oil Board] office are not entertained or not processed without any reason.
“I would like to thank State Agricultural Modernisation Minister [Alfred
Jabu Numpang] in his oral reply that the government will provide assistance
through MPOB irrespective of their political affiliation since poverty
eradication is applicable to all poor farmers.
“So far, the government has not allocated sufficient budget to cater for
the needs of oil palm smallholders. I would like to know how much has been
allocated to oil palm smallholders.
“How many applications have been received and approved by MPOB?” Biju
asked.
He also questioned the financial capability of the government to plant
200,000ha by 2021 of high- yield rubber trees as planned by Pemandu
(Performance Management and Delivery Unit).
“I would like to express my concern on the availability of federal fund
to finance such an ambitious undertaking.
“Such undertaking costs about RM13,500 per ha to plant rubber trees so
the government has to set a budget of RM2.7 billion over the next 10 years or
RM270 million per year.
“Looking at the budget to plant rubber for 2012 of about RM70 million,
it means we are way behind our target already,” he said.
Rubber smallholders
A lot of smallholders, through their own efforts, plant commercial crops
like oil palm and rubber without waiting for assistance from agricultural
department.
“They are facing many obstacles, especially relating to terracing and
construction of farm roads leading to their farms.
“I urge the agricultural department to come out with a specific scheme
to assist those genuine farmers.
“Rubber smallholders are also facing problem with the quality of
seedlings provided through the agricultural department.
“Many of the seedlings cannot grow properly or simply die after
planting. Replacement seedlings should be supplied immediately to replace dead
seedlings.
“Farmers must be advised and given technical training assistance so that
they can produce their own seedlings with quality ‘bud eyes’ taken from
reputable suppliers of high-yield rubber clones,” he added. -----The
Free Malaysia Today
