State gets two more ‘Desa Lestari’ villages
BAU: An allocation of RM26 million has been approved to develop an additional 15 villages, including two in Sarawak, under the ‘ Desa Lestari’ ( 21st Century Village) programme this year.
Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said the selected villages in the state were Kampung Pejuang Kelulit in Bekenu and Rumah Edmund Kumbong in Saratok.
The ‘ Desa Lestari’ initiative comes under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) 2.0. It is meant to transform rural villages into economic activity hubs in order to help the locals earn higher income.
There are currently 42 established ‘ Desa Lestari’ in the country, including four in this state, namely Kampung Tellian in Mukah, Kampung Stass in Bau, Kampung Tanjung Parang in Kota Samarahan and Kampung Long Bedian in Miri.
Citing Kampung Stass as an example, Shafie said RM1.4 million had been allocated to develop its plantation service activities, freshwater fish farming, and rubber latex processing depot two years ago.
Included was the establishment of Koperasi Kaban Bau Bhd to oversee project’s planning and implementation.
“The ‘ Desa Lestari’ concept is to develop the economy and improve the income of the rural
The ‘Desa Lestari’ concept is to develop the economy and improve the income of the rural community through establishing key economic activities suitable for that particular village, apart from developing facilities.
Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, Rural and Regional Development Minister
community through establishing key economic activities suitable for that particular village, apart from developing facilities.
“This initiative would open more job opportunities for the locals,” he told a press conference after his working visit to Kampung Stass’ ‘Desa Lestari’ project, some 30km from here, yesterday.
Shafie’s deputy Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, Assistant Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Peter Nansian and Mas Gading MP Anthony Nogeh were also present.
In Kampung Tellian, RM3.7 million was allocated in 2013 for transportation services of sago palm and coal.
Kampung Tanjung received RM2 million for its plantations services and stingless bee (meliponini) farming activities.
Last year, the ‘ Desa Lestari’ programme in Long Bedian was allocated RM1 million for its agriculture, homestay and tourism projects.
In total, RM8.1 million had been allocated for the four ‘ 21st Century Village’ programmes in the state.
As for projects in Bekenu and Saratok, the ministry was still working out the best projects to be implemented and its costs.
Despite the establishment of cooperatives to manage project implementation, Shafie said his ministry also held discussions with other ministries, such as the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry, to help with the marketing of products.
On a related note, Shafie advised the rural community to be involved in high income activities to get lucrative returns.
He said his ministry would continue to aid villagers by boosting economic growth in their areas.
On the rubber and palm oil sectors, he said the government would continue to support and encourage smallholders to raise their productivity to improve income from export and counter the drop in prices.