SELANGAU – In a bid to strengthen agricultural capabilities among rural communities, the Selangau District Agriculture Office joined forces with the Sibu District Farmers Association (PPK) to stage an Agriculture Community Outreach Programme (Agricop) at Rumah N. Balingian in the Tamin state constituency.
The two-day event was inaugurated by Charlie Lunyong, who stepped in for Selangau MP Edwin Banta, citing the latter’s obligations in Parliament.
Lunyong extended his apologies on Banta’s behalf and congratulated the participants for completing the course and enhancing their understanding of farming methods.
He remarked that initiatives like Agricop are “very important to strengthen the rural community to continue to develop the agriculture sector through new knowledge and technology.”
Representing the Selangau District Officer, SAO Louis Michael Balau lauded the agencies involved and expressed hope that similar programmes would be extended to other areas, thus benefiting more rural residents.
Over the course of the programme, attendees took part in agricultural lectures, cooking demonstrations, and accessed services through booths managed by various agencies such as Sarawak Skills Kuching, i-CATS College University, the Sibu Division Welfare Office, SOCSO Sibu Division, and herbicide suppliers.
As part of the outreach, 300 seedlings of the J33 jackfruit (Tekam Yellow) variety were distributed to participants.
Also, present were representatives including Jee Wie Ren (Sibu Division Agriculture Officer’s office), James Alow Bunya (Assistant Officer in Charge, Selangau District Agriculture Office), Eloni Mahsin (Development Unit, Sibu Agriculture Office), Pemancha Mathew Belawan Daut, Penghulu Dom Thomas, Penghulu Jawai, and other community leaders.
Agricop is part of the state government’s broader effort to bring modern agricultural practices closer to rural communities.
According to recent reports, the programme aims to promote uptake of new techniques, encourage youth participation in farming, and improve farmers’ incomes by applying technology such as smart farming and IoT-enabled systems.
By linking participants with educational institutions, government services and technical support, the initiative seeks to empower rural producers and build resilience in the agricultural sector.