Sarawak gov’t allocates RM15 million to turn Padawan into coffee haven

Seated from left: Dr Jerip, Dr Rundi, Sagah and others photographed during the press conference at Padawan sub-district office, Kuching on Jan 22, 2024.

By Chris Bishop

PADAWAN, Jan 22: The Sarawak government through Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA) has set aside RM15 million allocation to establish an agro park for growing coffee in Padawan.

Of the total, RM8 million is for the establishment of a Collecting, Processing and Packaging Centre (CPCC) for the production of coffee at Padawan Rural Growth Centre (RGC) while RM7 million is to implement road infrastructure to the mini coffee estate at Kampung Emperoh Jambu-Bayur.

Dr Rundi waters a plant while others look on during the handing over of RGC Padawan to GKCDA on Jan 22, 2024.

Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (M-FICORD) Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the setting up of the agro park would serve as an agro tourism product in Padawan.

“If we want to produce a product, there must be a branding and we must promote it aggressively.

“Therefore, it is timely for the coffee-based agro park to be set up here, which would include research and development (R&D) activities too,” he told a press conference after the handing over of RGC Padawan to GKCDA at Padawan sub-district office here today.

At the same time, Deputy Minister of Transport (Aviation and Road) and Mambong assemblyman Datuk Dr Jerip Susil said there are about 600 coffee farmers around Padawan area.

“They have started planting coffee three years ago and they are producing yields today.

“I was made to understand that there are also coffee farmers in Tarat, Tebedu and Serembu,” he said.

Dr Jerip also mentioned that a piece of land with a size of 40 hectares was proposed to be allocated for coffee planting by the private investors.

Also present was Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) and GKCDA chairman Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn. – DayakDaily