Information-sharing regarding agricultural projects, especially large-scale, not only provide information and knowledge to shareholders, especially the local village residents, but also bring wider benefits to the local community, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin said.
The minister said this during the 21st Legislative Council session yesterday.
For example, villagers can participate in these agricultural projects, especially in employment opportunities with developer companies or side businesses resulting from the economic spillover. All that is needed is the commitment and response of the villagers to seize the opportunity, the minister said.
The minister cited an example in Kandol Agricultural Development Area (KKP) whereby the rice plantation company has hired 19 local workers who resides around the project.
Meanwhile in the KKP Merangking, the company hired about 10 to 15 local workers from around the project. There are also farmers and village entrepreneurs who can sell their produce through large-scale companies that operate near their villages.
In addition, since the developer is carrying out large-scale agricultural projects in the village environment, basic infrastructure such as roads in the village is also shared with the local residents.
With the sharing of information and involvement of the entrepreneurs and the villagers, the village and mukim can negotiate with the developer to share responsibility for helping to maintain the infrastructure that is affected by agricultural activities.
The ministry continuously communicates and discusses with the village authorities regarding agricultural development activities in the development areas involved, especially for large scale projects.
This communication is carried out either formally or informally depending on the needs and suitability of the situation. For example, for the KKP Kandol, communication and discussions are carried out through the committee for the Kandol area project opening for rice cultivation. As with the rice cultivation project in KKP Kandol, for agricultural projects in KKP Merangking, the Agriculture Department also conducts consultations with the village consultative council, Merangking Village Head and other stakeholders.
On developers and companies operating in the KKP areas in existing villages and sub-districts, information can be shared subject to its suitability especially including to support the planning and interests of the village or sub-district to ensure that agricultural development runs more effectively and smoothly.
As a step forward, this information sharing mechanism will be further researched and developed through cooperation with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the relevant district offices so that information can be distributed systematically and efficiently. – Fadhil Yunus
