MEDAN — A 17-member delegation from the Selangau Parliamentary constituency has completed a four-day study tour in North Sumatra, Indonesia, aimed at exploring opportunities to strengthen commercial agriculture in Sarawak.
The programme took place from 19 to 22 September and involved community leaders as well as representatives of the Selangau Parliament Service Centre.
Participants visited several agricultural hubs, including Berastagi, known for vegetable and fruit cultivation, a juice production facility in Makisa, Medan, and a food product centre in Parapat, alongside handicraft sites on Samosir Island. The tour provided first-hand exposure to Indonesia’s successful farming models and marketing systems.
Pemanca Gerosen Jubin described the experience as “very beneficial,” noting that participants witnessed extensive fruit and vegetable farming and learned about collection centres that simplify the marketing of produce for both local consumption and export. He expressed appreciation to Selangau MP Edwin Banta, who coordinated the initiative.
Meanwhile, Penghulu Lasit Bajieng highlighted that the visit broadened participants’ perspectives on agriculture as a business.
“The success achieved here is worthy of emulation, especially in the Sungai Arip area,” he said. He suggested that the newly opened Sungai Arip R&R could serve as a future collection centre for local produce.
The programme forms part of Edwin Banta’s wider efforts to develop Selangau’s agricultural sector. To date, more than 30,000 coffee seedlings have been distributed in the constituency, encouraging residents to treat farming as a sustainable economic driver.
Other members of the delegation included Tony Emat, representing the Selangau Service Centre, and Tatau District Pemanca Gerosen Jubin.
