Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) urged the Sabah Government to fully utilise the RM553 million agricultural allocation in the 2024 State Budget.
Its Director General Datuk Dr Ramle Kasin said the budget emphasises the wellbeing of the people and the importance of the agricultural sector, which is one of the pertinent contributors to the economy in the State.
“It not only benefits large-scale industrial players but also gives priority to small and medium-scale agropreneurs.
“In fact, this sector is crucial in support of the Government’s efforts for continuous food security supply for the wellbeing of the country as a whole.
“As such, the agricultural sector must always be nurtured and groomed to enable it to grow and continue to generate income, especially for people in the rural areas and farmers as well as small and medium entrepreneurs,” he said in a statement.
With a strategic approach, Ramle said efforts to strengthen the agricultural sector will be the key to reducing the income gap between urban and rural communities.
The MCB is the only Federal agency whose headquarters is based in Kota Kinabalu and one of the main leaders of the country’s commodity sector.
“We will continue to be committed and play an active role in nurturing the cocoa downstream and upstream industries for the wellbeing of the country.
“MCB is looking forward for collaborative projects, especially in the integration of cocoa with other crops in Sabah, as a strategic step to increase farmers’ income and positively contribute to Sabah’s economic development so as to ensure it remains viable and sustainable,” he added.
