Residents of Rumah Seliau trying their hand at planting pineapples in Pasai Siong.
SELANGAU: Residents of Rumah Seliau in Ulu Oya near here will soon have a stable side income once their land is developed for pineapple cultivation on a commercial basis.
According to Batang Oya, Pakoh and Sekuau Development Association chairman, councillor Henry Kanyan Rawing, a memorandum of understanding between the residents and the company undertaking the project would be signed soon.
“Once everything falls into place, commercial cultivation of pineapple on their 497ha of land can be carried out, ” he told reporters after launching a pineapple growing course in Pasai Siong.
Henry said the company would also be teaching the residents how to grow and harvest pineapples.
“The project would also attract youths in the longhouse area to take up agriculture and earn a good income from growing pineapples on a commercial basis, ” said Henry, who is a councillor for the Sibu Rural District Council.
Some 135 residents of the longhouse participated in the pineapple growing course, which was organised by the association and Malaysia Pineapple Industrial Board.
