KUCHING: The Mid-Rajang Regional Development Agency (MiRRDA) is actively implementing sustainable development projects through small-scale oil palm cultivation aimed at increasing household income in the central Sarawak region.
National Unity Minister Datuk Seri Aaron Ago Dagang said the project provided each household the opportunity to cultivate a small oil palm plantation with an initial proposed size of five hectares.
He added that MiRRDA was considering not imposing a land size limit per participant, based on feedback and discussions with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“Therefore, we hope that through this assistance scheme, or oil palm scheme, we can help raise each household’s income.
“Our target is no less than RM6,000 to RM8,000 per household,” he said when met after leading MiRRDA’s courtesy visit to the Premier at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex yesterday (May 23).
The MiRRDA chairman also expects the project to begin as early as next year with planning and vision currently being finalised.
He also said Abang Johari had expressed interest in the project and urged that all planning be completed promptly to enable swift implementation.
Aaron said MiRRDA was also prioritising infrastructure development, particularly road networks, with RM1.1 billion allocated for building new roads connecting previously abandoned Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands.
“Out of the total allocation of RM1.5 billion, RM1.1 billion has been set aside for the construction and upgrading of roads.
“Most of these are new routes linking NCR lands that had been left behind when residents were relocated through the Resettlement Scheme under the Rajang Area Security Command (RASCOM) Development Agency,” he said.
