Datuk Seri Dr. Stephen Rundi Utom. - Image: Ramidi Subari
14 May 2024
KUCHING: The Ministry of Food Industry, Commodities, and Regional Development will implement a leasing model to assist local communities in developing Native Customary Rights (NCR) land.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Stephen Rundi Utom, said the new model provides options for NCR landowners to choose the type of leasing model they want to use for land development.
"At a meeting on March 26, my ministry obtained approval from the NCR Land Development Committee to implement a leasing model to assist NCR land.
"With this new model, NCR landowners will enjoy guaranteed fixed income," he said in his winding-up speech at the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly session here today.
He added that all applications under the new model would be processed by his ministry, while further discussions would be held to ensure sustainable development of NCR land with the full committee and state task force.
"The main objective of this initiative is to improve the socio-economic status of indigenous communities in rural areas through various NCR land development models.
"It aims to enhance the welfare, socio-economic status, and productivity of rural communities, as well as to protect the environment and strengthen the economy," he said.
Meanwhile, regarding project management models or planned smallholder models, a total of 60,771 hectares of land has been developed by various related agencies involving 84,991 NCR landowners throughout Sarawak.
"Under the Joint Venture Model, 93,453 hectares of land in 48 NCR land development areas have been developed by joint venture companies with the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) as the trustee representing 18,067 registered participants.
"As of March 30, this project has generated a total of RM571 million in the form of advance payments, annual incentives, and dividends, which have been paid to participating landowners," he explained.
Furthermore, as of December 31, investments totaling RM3.60 billion were recorded for oil palm plantation development on NCR land.
