SIPITANG: The district is set to become a hub for high quality local fruit and livestock produce for the local market and export, when the 2,798-hectare Sipitang Halal Agri Plantation Economic Development Hub (Shape) in Kampung Iburu, here, is fully completed.
Shape developed by the Sabah State Land Development Authority (SLDB) with an estimated total investment of RM167 million, is expected to be able to attract foreign investment to invest in Iburu.
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SLDB General Manager Syaheddrul R. Joddari said, the project will be implemented in two phases, namely Phase 1 involving SLDB’s Commercial Iburu Area of 1252 hectares with a development cost of RM96.8 million.
“The second phase involving the Iburu Agropolitan area of 1,133 hectares is proposed to be implemented at a cost of RM70.2 million,” he said at the Shape ground-breaking ceremony in Kampung Iburu, recently.
“The overall concept of Shape is a modern agriculture-based development programme focused on the production, marketing and distribution of fresh and dried food for the local market as well as export to Brunei Darussalam which is the Halal Food Supply Hub of Southeast Asia.”
Syaheddrul said, among the objectives of Shape is to increase the State’s income through export activities which will directly contribute to the increase in the State’ gross domestic product (GDP).
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He said Shape would also help reduce the State’s dependence on imported products as there are three components in the hub, namely Horticulture Zone (ginger, avocado, pineapple and durian), Agricultutre Zone (coconut and coffee), Livestock Zone (cattle and goat), Administrative, Commercial and R&D Zones.
“We hope to create more young agro-preneurs among the participants who are more competitive and sustainable, besides creating more employment opportunities for the rural community.
“An estimated 284 job opportunities would be created in Phase 1 and a total of 264 job opportunities in Phase 2.
“The implementation of this project will benefit a total of 2,500 people in the community around Kampung Iburu,” he said.
Meanwhile, SLDB also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in cultivating musang king durian and avocado as well as increasing the production of other high potential fruit crops with Koperasi Keluarga Balang Basi (KBB) involving 50 participants and Koperasi Kampung Iburu Sipitang Berhad (KKISB) with a total of 32 participants.
The ceremony was officiated by Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, and was also attended by District Officer Awangku Raimy Pg Abd Rahman.
