Uggah (second left) presents a cheque for the compensation to landowner Tony Malang Chabu. Looking on are (from right) Friday, Rentap and Land and Survey Department Betong superintendent Morris Nayup.

BETONG (July 15): The Betong Division Development Agency (BDDA) is setting aside RM265 million meant for implementing various economic programmes in eight areas under its jurisdiction.

In disclosing this, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas hopes that this allocation, the people of Betong could generate high income via agriculture

“But we must ensure that our people too will have increased income; increasing the people’s income through modern agriculture and other economic activities here is now a top priority for me.

“Some in the (Betong) division, especially the oil palm and pepper farmers as well as the fishermen, are already high-income earners, but we want more to join the rank. That is why the government has come up with many programmes and allocated substantial funds to finance them.

“The target is by 2030, each household can earn an income of RM6,000 per month,” said the Bukit Saban assemblyman in a statement today.

Uggah said he planned to achieve these together with the respective elected representatives from eight constituencies in Betong Division through the BDDA, the Agriculture Department and all other related agencies.

Adding on, the deputy premier said in line with all these measures, the government has also reinforced basic infrastructures – among them the ongoing construction of the RM296-million Bebuling Short Takeoff and Landing Airport (STOLport) expected for completion in August next year; the RM17-million collecting, processing and packaging centre (CPPC) near this STOLport; as well as the creation of the agroparks at Bebulling and Lubok Tamang.

He also said the government had approved RM60 million for improvement works on the drainage at Bebulling Agropark, and another RM40 million for its development.

On the proposed Tanjung Sebekut modern padi farming area in Spaoh, he expressed gratitude to the government for allocating RM50 million to upgrade the drainage and also the irrigation system.

“We hope to apply new technology and introduce mechanisation, from planting to harvesting. Our target is five harvests in two years, with each hectare yielding eight tonnes.

“With better yields, income and reduced workload through usage of machinery and other technologies, we want to attract youths into the commercial padi farming sector.”

Additionally, Uggah also talked about the interest in hybrid seeds from Green World Genetics, a company in Simpang Debak, Spaoh involved in research and development of seeds and planting materials.

“We need a complete supply chain, especially a marketing unit. I am looking at the Saribas Farmers Organisation to fulfil this role,” he said.

On his Bukit Saban constituency, Uggah said RM60 million had been allocated for various agricultural activities.

“I’m very pleased to see farmers in this division embrace new concepts like hydroponics and fertigation. For instance, we have six greenhouses at Simpang Layar where an entrepreneur is growing rock melons.

“In Engkerbai, the Anyut residents are using fertigation to grow ginger, and their first harvest has earned them RM53,000. We are also encouraging over 100 families to rear ‘ayam kampung’ (free-range chickens). Our new proposed programmes also include commercial crawfish rearing and cattle-breeding.

“However, I want to remind everyone that while the government can provide advisory and financial support, the success would ultimately depend on their (farmers’) resilience and commitment.”

The press statement was issued in connection with the handing-over of compensations amounting to RM2.475 million to 100 landowners affected by two road projects: the Ulu Paku-Ulu Kota link-road and the Saka-Betong-SK Paku Central road, in a ceremony today.

Uggah was joined by Layar assemblyman Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu and Krian assemblyman Friday Belik at the event.