Over 900k hectares of NCR lands approved for agriculture projects

ABOUT 901,600 hectares of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land have been approved for various agriculture development projects, as of Oct 31. 

Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said that out of this total area, about 601,500 hectares have been developed with multiple crops including oil palm, rubber, pepper, coconut, sago and other agricultural activities, involving 194,943 landowners.

“Among the implementing agencies involved are Department of Agriculture Sarawak (DOA), Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA), Sarawak Land Development Board (SLDB), Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (FELCRA), Malaysian Pepper Board (MPB), Lembaga Koko Malaysia (LKM), Lembaga Getah Malaysia (LGM), Rubber Industry Smallholder Development Authority (RISDA) and Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

“In 2023, my ministry received an allocation amounting to RM229,990 from the federal government to carry out ‘Program Pembangunan Tanah Hak Adat Bumiputera’ (NCR Land Development) under ‘Program Khas Bumiputera’ (PKB) Sarawak. 

“This initiative is dedicated to promoting awareness of NCR land development programmes among NCR landowners and investors.

“The awareness programme includes engagements with NCR landowners, applicants, and land development agencies,” he said during his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Tuesday.

As such, he said, out of 138 applications submitted through respective Area Development Committees (ADC) involving 462,500 hectares, 61 have been approved covering a total area of 121,680 hectares.

Meanwhile, Dr Rundi acknowledged that the government faced challenges in developing NCR land.

“One of the latest developments that pose a challenge to develop the NCR is the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR). 

“This newly enforced regulation is detrimental to the government’s effort to eradicate poverty and uplifting the socio-economic wellbeing of the indigenous communities in Sarawak,” he lamented. 

He added that the EUDR will not only affect oil palm but also other major commodity crops and livestock such as rubber, cocoa, coffee, soya, cattle and wood, as well as products derived from these commodities.

Towards this end, he assured that the ministry will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities Malaysia (MPIC) and Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC) to appeal to European Union to grant special exemption to NCR land so as not to deprive the indigenous community the opportunities to uplift their livelihood and wellbeing.