KENINGAU: The Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry has identified Keningau as the site for a new agricultural produce processing centre to be operated by private industry players under the guidance of the Department of Agriculture.
Its Minister, Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, said the initiative is aimed at increasing the value-added potential of local agricultural products while creating broader economic opportunities for residents in the district.
Jamawi said this while officiating at the Durian Cultivation Transformation Course organised by the Sabah Department of Agriculture at the Dewan Masyarakat Keningau recently.
The course drew 142 participants from across Sabah, reflecting growing interest in the State’s durian industry.
On the Ministry’s Kitchen Garden programme, Jamawi said it would be expanded through a mentor-mentee model involving 23 mentors across various agricultural fields, including durian cultivation and poultry farming.
“Through this approach, experienced practitioners will continuously guide participants so that more successful entrepreneurs can be developed,” he said.
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Jamawi added that the structured mentoring system is also expected to reduce dependence on subsidies by ensuring that support is directed only to participants with genuine potential.
“Previously, assistance was given without a thorough assessment. This time, we are targeting at least an 80 per cent success rate among participants through a more organised guidance system,” said the Melalap Assemblyman.
He said the programme forms part of the ministry’s broader effort to extend knowledge transfer to farmers and agropreneurs across all 26 districts in Sabah, with various courses throughout the year covering durian, avocado, and food industry-related training.
“Today, we focus on durian cultivation in Keningau, but in other districts, we will also conduct avocado courses and various food-based courses. This is the Department of Agriculture’s initiative to ensure we can provide knowledge to entrepreneurs, farmers and durian growers,” he said.
On financing, Jamawi said the State Government is working with Perbadanan Pinjaman Sabah to offer interest-free loans of up to RM30,000, as well as low-interest loans of around 1% through Agrobank, to help promising participants enter commercial farming.
He added that the Ministry will continue to support industry players in marketing their produce through collaboration with relevant associations.
“We have done much to ensure that products can be marketed more effectively and provide returns to producers,” he said.
Separately, the Ministry will launch a Kitchen Garden roadshow in conjunction with the State-level Kaamatan Festival, scheduled for May 1 in Papar.
Jamawi invites the public to attend and learn about the various initiatives under the Kitchen Garden programme and the opportunities available in the agricultural sector.
“Continuous education and guidance for farmers is essential to ensuring Sabah’s agricultural sector grows sustainably,” he said.
