Rimbunan Kaseh Sundar project turns ‘golden’

Awang Tengah (third left), flanked by Ladin on his right and Henry, giving his thumbs-up for the first harvest of Golden melons from the Rimbunan Kaseh Sundar project.

LAWAS: The federal-state government funded Rimbunan Kaseh Sundar project here is bearing fruits, literally. With the eye-popping Golden melons, Lawas stands proud as the only place in the state to produce this fruit for export.

Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who visited the site yesterday, said the project, with housing and training thrown in, was meant to eradicate poverty.

“This project should be the nucleus of a more integrated economic development model to uplift the rural economy and entrepreneurship,” he said.

The project, he added, should be expanded to include aquaculture and other products like bananas and tapioca. Cottage industries should also be introduced.

Future components include contract farming and transfer of technological know-how and marketing skills.

Awang Tengah later officiated at the first harvest of the hydrophonic-grown Golden melons. The projected harvest is slightly over two metric tonnes monthly, and they would be exported mainly to Brunei.

During his visit, he also released fish fries into the ready ponds for aquaculture.

The Rimbunan Kaseh Sundar project is the first-of-its-kind integrated economic project in the state.

A bountiful golden harvest.

Releasing fish fries into ponds.

It was implemented at a cost of RM50 million – RM30 million from the federal government and RM20 million from the state government.

The project is implemented by Iris Agrotech Sdn Bhd, which will train selected participants for this project and pay basic salary and allowances later.

Also present at the event were Iris Agrotech Sdn Bhd business development director Zalina Yusof, Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong, Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang, Lawas District Officer Hussaini Hakim, Sarawak Administrative Officer (SAO) Sundar Ladin Atok and community leaders.

 

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