Dr Annuar (centre) presenting free fertilisers and pesticides to baby corn farmers of Rumah Bungan in Sibu.
A TOTAL of 29 baby corn farmers of Rumah Bungan in Sibu, Sarawak received RM290,000 worth of fertiliser and pesticide.
Sarawak’s Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee said each baby corn sold for about 30sen.
“At this price, their monthly earnings would range between RM2,000 and RM3,000.
“I suggested for the relevant authorities look into ways to increase the farmers’ income,” he said.
Dr Annuar said the aid meant that the farmers no longer needed to buy fertilisers and pesticides for at least a year.
“So far, they have received nearly RM10,000 each to buy pesticides and fertilisers,” he said at an aid presentation ceremony.
The Nangka assemblyman said he would get supermarkets and hotels in town to deal directly with the farmers for their supply of baby corn.
“If they can sell directly to supermarkets and hotels, it would ensure higher profit margins for the farmers.”
He said the Sarawak government had set a target for small commodity farmers to earn RM6,000 per month by 2030.
Separately, Sarawak Iban Annual Conference (SIAC) Methodist Church Sibu received RM1mil from the state’s Unit for Other Religions (Unifor).
Dr Annuar said the funds would be used by the church to upgrade its hostel, conference room and meeting room.
“Unifor had earlier presented RM1mil for the first phase of upgrading work, which was used for the project’s administrative block,” he said.
SIAC president Rev Bonnie Sedau said the project was estimated to cost RM2.2mil.
“It is 80% completed. We hope with the additional funds, we can resume the project and expect it to be completed by the end of July,” he said.
