Dr. Abdul Rahman during his speech at DUN.
KUCHING, 23 NOVEMBER 2023: The Sarawak government is currently working hard to develop rumbia cultivation in Kalaka.
Sarawak Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (Food Industry) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said the state government through the Sarawak Department of Agriculture is implementing the New Rumbia Planting Program in groups in Kalaka.
"This group planting of New Rumbia program involves 15 participants with an area of 43.6 hectares in the Kalaka area," he explained.
He said this while answering a question from Kalaka assemblyman Mohamad Duri during the 19th Sarawak State Assembly sitting on Thursday.
Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman added that the project worth RM520,000 has started to be implemented in 2022 and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
In addition, he said, the government through the Sago and Nipah Development Board (SNDB) will conduct a detailed study on potential areas for rumbia including in Kalaka.
"The government through the SNDB is doing a detailed study to identify and develop potential areas for rumbia in Sarawak, including in Kalaka," he said.
In the meantime, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman added that Kalaka also received aid schemes for rumbia farming throughout Sarawak, namely the New Rumbia Planting Program, the Rumbia Restoration Program, the Rumbia Infrastructure Development Program, and the Rumbia Improvement Program.
He explained that applicants for assistance are open to small rumbia farmers in Sarawak who are Malaysian citizens residing in Sarawak, aged 18 years and above and have land with legal ownership.
