KENINGAU: Ten villages in the Sook sub-district have been chosen as pilots for the Share Sustenance Project: Community Economic Improvement Program with corn crops, in collaboration with Koperasi Tanjung Keramat Bhd.
Among the villages involved are Kampung Sinulihan, Kampung Baru Jumpa, Kampung Pengiradan, Kampung Simpang Empat, Kampung Kiulu Baru and Kampung Tiong will be guided by the Cooperative.
Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup said through this collaboration, briefings and courses will be given on how to grow corn to get the best results and will help market their crops later.
“We have a long-term plan to help create cooperatives in each village to manage this plant project in an orderly manner so the benefits and progress of this project can be enjoyed by every member in the villages involved,” he said when officiating the event in Sook here, recently.
Arthur, who is also a Member of Parliament for Pensiangan, said that through this programme, each farmer involved is targeted to earn an income of at least RM1,000 per acre for each harvest, according to the size and quality of the crops. Every 90-100 days, a harvest can be made.
According to him, this project is the best example of how cooperation between Members of Parliament and the private sector can improve the economy of rural people, which is to develop agriculture and help market produce and crop products.
As a Member of Parliament, he gave his full commitment for this initiative to be continuously implemented in other areas to help improve the economy of farmers and rural residents. This is in line with his stand for Bersama Kita Hebatkan Pensiangan.
“In conjunction with the launch of this project, sales of basic necessities such as sugar, salt, rice, flour, canned food, and many more were also held at reasonable sales prices.”
“This works as a mobile grocery store to make it easier for people in rural areas to buy basic goods without having to spend the cost of going out to town for that purpose,” he said.
Arthur said this is a continuous effort to improve the people’s economy and help reduce the cost of living.
At the ceremony, Arthur also handed over corn seeds and grass cutters to each village involved in an effort to help the residents start this crop.
