MiRRDA funding to boost coffee cultivation to diversify Selangau economic devt

Sempurai (second right) presenting a souvenir to Edwin.

By William Isau

SELANGAU, July 28: Coffee planting in Selangau is expected to receive a boost from local elected representatives and leaders.

Selangau MP Edwin Banta said that he and Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang and Senator Rita Insol are planning to promote the plant.

“In the past, our people (Selangau) ran an oil palm plantation business. The results were very good where almost every resident in the longhouse had a Hilux (four-wheel drive vehicle) as a result of the plantation.

“But this time we are trying to open up new economic opportunities for the people of Selangau by intensifying the cultivation of coffee which is expected to expand household income apart from oil palm or other crops,” he said at the 2024 Selangau Carnival last night.

According to him, following the allocation of RM1.5 billion by the Sarawak government to the Mid-Rajang Regional Development Agency (MiRRDA), coffee planting is set to take a larger role in Selangau’s socio-economic development, apart from infrastructure and other development.

Edwin explained, they will distribute a number of allocations to buy coffee seedlings to be distributed to longhouse residents.

“Just like (oil) palm trees in the past, we distributed the saplings; the same with this coffee. The three of us have agreed to grow coffee plants here,” he said.

Edwin also said that planting coffee plants have high economic potential considering there is high demand in the market.

The 2024 Selangau Carnival held from 26 to 28 July was organised by Sibu Rural District Council

Various activities and events were held including a Raft Safari competition, futsal, karaoke, keling and kumang competition, ‘pekit main Iban asal’ (Iban cultural and traditional competition), community run, pinching, band competition and remote control power boat race.

Also present were Selangau District Officer Yalin Asan, SRDC chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai, Secretary Ng Siang Wei and Selangau Carnival 2024 organising chairman Councilor Minggu Angga. — DayakDaily