SERIAN: Kedup incumbent Datuk Martin Ben envisions establishing a new subdistrict within his constituency, with the proposed Bunon-Mongkos rural growth centre forming part of his long-term development plans.
Martin said developing the proposed rural growth centre, known as Pusat Perkhidmatan Pembangunan Desa, is among his key priorities if given another five-year mandate.
The Deputy Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister said the development would incorporate residential, commercial and agricultural areas alongside government facilities.
“One of the major components is housing, some commercial areas, dedicated agricultural areas and government departments, especially a health clinic and police station.
“The long-term plan is hopefully to upgrade it into a subdistrict. That is my dream.
“I was told that it was approved last August by the State Planning Authority (SPA), but I have not received the official letter,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
Apart from infrastructure development, Martin said his second priority is to encourage rural communities to maximise the potential of agriculture, particularly in crop cultivation, livestock farming and commodities.
He said Serian has vast areas of fertile land that could be utilised for commercial agricultural activities to generate higher and more sustainable incomes.
“I hope our people will maximise the agriculture sector, whether it is crops, livestock or commodities.
“They should not just look at agriculture as a means of earning a living. While earning a living and increasing their income, they must also look at it from a commercial perspective.”
Martin said farmers should consider working collectively or collaborating with established producers and companies to expand their operations beyond small-scale farming.
He noted that Sarawak’s relatively small domestic market could limit commercial opportunities, making overseas markets an important consideration for agricultural producers.
However, he said entering international markets required compliance with quality standards and certifications such as the Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices (MyGAP).
“If they want to do it commercially, they have to talk about the export market. When you talk about the export market, you have to meet international quality standards.
“For example, you need certain certifications like MyGAP and other requirements of the international market, and it is not easy.”
Martin said collaboration among farmers, processors and marketing companies would allow local producers to participate in larger agricultural supply chains.
He explained that farmers could focus on supplying produce while experienced industry players handled processing, quality control and marketing.
“Our farmers might be the major suppliers of raw materials for one company to process, while another company markets the products internationally.
“That is the synergy between our farmers, processors and marketing arms. Only that way can our land be meaningfully managed and incomes not only improved but hopefully sustained.”
The proposed rural growth centre is not a new initiative, as Martin had raised the proposal during the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting in November 2018.
At the time, he proposed establishing a growth centre between Muara Mongkos and Kampung Bunan to support economic activities and rural entrepreneurship in surrounding communities.
The proposal was intended to serve 25 surrounding villages with a combined population of nearly 10,000, while creating opportunities in trade, skills development, handicrafts and tourism.
