Sabah govt welcomes pepper as new crop

TAMBUNAN: The state government welcomes the efforts of the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities to introduce the cultivation of pepper as a new commodity crop.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said the newly introduced commodity crop has been well received in the state.
He said if farmers in the interior region were given a briefing and guidance on growing pepper, they would cultivate the crop in their gardens together with other crops.
Pairin, who is also Minister of Infrastructure Development was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Hello Commodity Programme organised by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities at the community hall here on Saturday.
“We hope pepper can be cultivated by the farmers especially in the Tambunan district and Keningau parliamentary as a whole when they receive assistance and guidance just like other commodities such as oil palm and rubber that they are planting now,” he said.
He also hoped that the presence of the officials and agencies under the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities would enable the local community to improve the quality and productivity of commodity crops as well as the industry.
The Tambunan Assemblyman and Keningau MP said the Hello Commodity Programme was also an avenue for participants to obtain information, knowledge and experience as well as new ideas to address issues related to commodity crops.
“With the government vigorously promoting the plantation and commodity sector, the economy of smallholders in the state including those in the Tambunan district and the interior region will continue to improve.
“In this respect, I urge smallholders and entrepreneurs as well as the community in general to take advantage of the assistance and services provided by the government to develop the plantation and commodity sector,” said Pairin.
Also present were the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Bingkor Assemblyman Datuk Justin Guka, Tambunan District Officer Thomas Angor, officials from the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities and community leaders.