The fisheries sector in Sabah last year attracted RM3.21 billion in
private investment which is expected to generate RM6.53 billion in
returns and 31,231 job opportunities, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk
Seri Yahya Hussin.
A subsidiary of the American company Darden,
Lobster Aqua Technologies Sdn Bhd, will invest RM2 billion in a lobster
farming project in Semporna, said Yahya, who is also state Agriculture
and Food Industries Minister, in his speech at an assembly for his
ministry's officers and staff at Wisma Pertanian here today.
He
said of the 40 companies which have submitted applications for
marine-based projects in the state, 25 per cent have been approved or
their approval supported through the Agriculture National Key Economic
Area for aquaculture.
The ministry will also provide aid for
fishermen to raise their incomes, he said, adding in 2011 and 2012, a
total of 427 fishermen received RM49.5 million in aid in the form of
fisheries infrastructure, equipment, marine aquaculture development
incentives and human capital development.
The commercial paddy
cultivation programme in Kota Belud will begin in March involving 800
hectares, 762 participants and infrastructure development cost of RM14.6
million, he said.
"By 2020, it is estimated 5,000 hectares will
be under double cropping with yields approaching 8.5 metric tonnes per
hectare," he said.
Last year, the Agricuture Department gave out
RM18.0 million in plowing subsidies for 29,848 hectares of paddy field
involving 26,046 farmers, he said.
The state's rubber production
of 44,185 metric tonnes last year had a market value of RM422.15
million, he said, adding the Sabah Rubber Industry Board's (LIGS)
profits in 2011 and 2012 of RM44 million and RM34 million respectively
have enabled it to pull itself out of the "sick agency" label.
A
total of 249 development projects and programmes were implemented in the
state last year, comprising 180 state-funded and 49 federal
government-funded projects, he said.
Yahya said last year, the
Fisheries Department spent 95.29 per cent of its allocation, followed by
LIGS (95 per cent); Sabah Fisheries and Fishermen's Development
Cooperative (Ko-Nelayan) (93 per cent); Drainage and Irrigation
Department and Rural Development Cooperative (89 per cent each); and
Department of Veterinary Services and Animal Industries (84.4 per cent).
Source: Bernama
0 comments:
Post a Comment