ACCORDING to Martin Ben (BN-Kedup), most of the economic activities in Kedup and Serian District are agriculture based.

He added that oil palm, pepper, rubber and cocoa are the people’s main source of income.

“I believe commercial agriculture and livestock breeding programmes will be introduced there, especially to the rural youths.

“Therefore, government departments and agencies like the Agriculture Department, IADA, FAMA and Lembaga Koko, Lembaga Lada and others are urged to play a bigger role in attracting local youths to venture into agro-based industries,” he said during the debate in support of the 2014 State budget on the fourth day of the DUN session yesterday.

‘Martin believes that with training exposure, mentoring, study tour programmers, professional advice and support from relevant agencies, the youths in Kedup could be successful.

On the Native Customary Rights (NCR) Land, he said In recent years the government is carrying out perimeter survey of the traditional villages.

“Earlier this year, nine areas in Kedup had been gazetted under Section 6 of the State Land Code, covering an area of 4650 hectares,’ he said.

In the 2014 Federal Budget, the government has allocated 50 million for surveying works and confirmation of NCR land ownership in Sarawak.

The amount is reasonable as many areas in the state have yet to he surveyed. We hope all NCR land in the state could be surveyed and gazetted immediately,’ he said.

(Source:  New Sarawak Tribune, 22 November 2013)