Tawau — On 25 July 2024, the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) took place between the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) and the Kalabakan Area Farmers Organisation (PPK Kalabakan) for the cultivation of ginger in Merotai, Tawau and neighbouring areas through the People’s Income Initiative — Agro Entrepreneur (IPR-INTAN) programme.

IPR-INTAN is a programme under the Ministry of Economy meant to address the issue of hardcore poverty, while also being able to increase participants’ income through agricultural activities. This programme is also able to overcome people’s daily economic problems and help strengthen the food security agenda.

This Ginger Planting Project will be implemented in four phases; the first phase involves the initial 80 participants who will plant 80,000 ginger trees on a two-acre site, with a target of 160 tons of ginger to be produced within nine months. Through this harvest target, the participants will receive an income of RM2,000, as stipulated in the objectives of the IPR-INTAN programme.

As the implementing authority for the Sabah Development Corridor, SEDIA plays the role of a liaison between both the State and Federal Governments in supporting the development agenda of the state of Sabah, and has been entrusted by the Ministry of Economy as the facilitator of the IPR-INTAN programme in Sabah. The IPR-INTAN Ginger Planting project will be implemented by PPK Kalabakan as the strategic partner, in collaboration with Maha Sawit Sdn Bhd as technical strategic partner and Universiti Malaysia Sabah as research strategic partner.

Three agreements were signed during the ceremony, namely:

• Agreement for “Program Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat — Usahawan Tani (IPR-INTAN) bagi Projek Tanaman Halia di Kg. Merotai, Tawau, Sabah”;
• IPR-INTAN Programme Implementation Agreement between PPK Kalabakan and Maha Sawit Sdn Bhd; and
• Memorandum of Understanding between UMS Investment Holdings Sdn Bhd and Maha Sawit Sdn Bhd.

The event also witnessed the handing over of the IPR-INTAN Allocation Mock Cheque from the Ministry of Economy to PPK Kalabakan, as well as a visit to the project site and a demonstration of harvesting ginger trees.

The IPR-INTAN Memorandum of Agreement Signing Ceremony was attended by YB Dato’ Haji Mohd Yusof bin Apdal (Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation), PPK Chairman YBrs. Saharuddin bin Salleh (representing Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Sabah, and Honorary President of PPK Kalabakan, YB Datuk Andi Mohammad Suryady bin Haji Bandy), YBhg. Datin Zaeidah Mohamed Esa (Director of Agriculture Division, Ministry of Economy), YBhg. Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hashim bin Paijan (SEDIA Chief Executive), Dean of Sustainable Agriculture in Universiti Malaysia Sabah Sandakan campus YBhg. Associate Prof. Dr. Azwan bin Awang (representing Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah YBhg. Prof. Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor), YBhg. Datuk Dr. Hj. Omar Raisul As Salam Syah bin Datuk Hj Sulaiman Omar (Chairman of UMS Investment Holdings), YB Sarifuddin Hata (N.72 Merotai Assemblyman), and also Sabah Farmers’ Association Board Regional Supervisor for Tawau YBrs. Aqmal Ashraf bin Salleh (representing Director of the Sabah Farmers’ Association Board, YBrs. Hadriyani binti Ahmad).

The ceremony marks an important step in efforts to ensure sustainable and inclusive development, which will greatly benefit the local community and the country as a whole. It is in line with Initiative #26 (Interior Food Valley) and Initiative #27 (New Gen Farmer-Entrepreneurs) of the SDC Blueprint 2.0, which are able to contribute to the development of the agricultural sector thus increasing the income of participants; developing the rural economy; foster collaboration between government agencies; and also improve skills among participants.

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“SEDIA Membawa Usaha Pembasmian Kemiskinan Kementerian Ekonomi ke Tawau melalui Program IPR-INTAN”

Tawau — Pada 25 Julai 2024 diadakan satu Majlis Menandatangani Perjanjian Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat — Inisiatif Usahawan Tani (IPR-INTAN) antara Pihak Berkuasa Pembangunan Ekonomi dan Pelaburan Sabah (SEDIA) dan Pertubuhan Peladang Kawasan (PPK) Kalabakan, bagi penanaman halia di Merotai, Tawau. Projek ini bakal meningkatkan pendapatan bulanan peserta kepada RM2,000, membantu dalam meningkatkan taraf hidup rakyat serta membasmi kemiskinan di kalangan masyarakat Merotai dan kawasan sekeliling.

Program IPR-INTAN merupakan salah satu program di bawah Kementerian Ekonomi untuk membasmi kemiskinan tegar, sekaligus dapat meningkatkan pendapatan peserta melalui kegiatan pertanian. Program ini juga mampu mengatasi masalah ekonomi harian rakyat serta membantu memperkukuh agenda keterjaminan makanan.

Projek Tanaman Halia ini akan dilaksanakan dalam empat fasa; fasa pertama melibatkan 80 orang peserta yang akan menanam 80,000 pokok halia di tapak berkeluasan dua ekar dengan sasaran sebanyak 160 tan halia akan dihasilkan dalam tempoh sembilan bulan. Melalui sasaran hasil tuaian ini, para peserta akan menerima pendapatan sekurang-kurangya  RM2,000 sebulan, seperti yang ditetapkan di dalam objektif program IPR-INTAN.

SEDIA selaku pihak berkuasa Koridor Pembangunan Sabah memainkan peranan sebagai penghubung antara kedua-dua Kerajaan Negeri dan Persekutuan untuk menyokong agenda pembangunan negeri Sabah, dan telah diberi amanah oleh Kementerian Ekonomi sebagai pemudah cara  program IPR-INTAN di negeri Sabah. Projek Tanaman Halia IPR-INTAN ini akan dilaksanakan oleh PPK Kalabakan selaku rakan strategik dengan kerjasama Maha Sawit Sdn Bhd sebagai rakan strategik teknikal dan Universiti Malaysia Sabah sebagai rakan strategik penyelidikan.

Tiga perjanjian telah ditandatangani semasa majlis tersebut, iaitu:

• Perjanjian Program Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat — Usahawan Tani (IPR-INTAN) bagi Projek Tanaman Halia di Kg. Merotai, Tawau, Sabah;
• Perjanjian Pelaksanaan Program IPR-INTAN di antara PPK Kalabakan dan Maha Sawit Sdn Bhd; dan
• Perjanjian Persefahaman antara UMS Investment Holdings Sdn Bhd dan Maha Sawit Sdn Bhd.

Acara tersebut juga menyaksikan penyerahan Mock Cheque Peruntukan IPR-INTAN daripada Kementerian Ekonomi kepada PPK Kalabakan, serta lawatan ke tapak projek dan demonstrasi menuai pokok halia.

Majlis Menandatangani Perjanjian IPR-INTAN tersebut dihadiri oleh YB Dato’ Haji Mohd Yusof bin Apdal (Timbalan Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi), Pengerusi PPK Kalabakan YBrs. Tuan Saharuddin bin Salleh (mewakili Pembantu Menteri Pembangunan Perindustrian dan Keusahawanan Sabah merangkap Presiden Kehormat PPK Kalabakan, YB Datuk Andi Mohammad Suryady bin Haji Bandy), YBhg. Datin Zaeidah Mohamed Esa (Pengarah Bahagian Pertanian, Kementerian Ekonomi), YBhg. Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hashim bin Paijan (Ketua Eksekutif SEDIA), Dekan Fakulti Pertanian Lestari, Universiti Malaysia Sabah cawangan Sandakan YBhg. Prof. Madya Dr. Azwan bin Awang (mewakili Naib Canselor Universiti Malaysia Sabah, YBhg. Prof. Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj. Mansor), YBhg. Datuk Dr. Hj. Omar Raisul As Salam Syah bin Datuk Hj Sulaiman Omar (Pengerusi UMS Investment Holdings Sdn Bhd), YB Sarifuddin Hata (ADUN N.72 Merotai), dan juga Penyelia Wilayah Tawau, LPP Negeri Sabah YBrs. Tuan Aqmal Ashraf bin Salleh (mewakili Pengarah Lembaga Pertubuhan Peladang Sabah, YBrs. Puan Hadriyani binti Ahmad).

Majlis tersebut menandakan satu langkah penting dalam usaha untuk memastikan pembangunan yang mampan dan inklusif, yang akan memberikan manfaat besar kepada masyarakat tempatan dan negara secara keseluruhan. Ia selaras dengan Inisiatif #26 (Lembah Makanan di Pedalaman) dan juga Inisiatif #27 (Usahawan-petani Gen Baharu) di bawah Rangka Tindakan SDC 2.0 yang mampu menyumbang kepada perkembangan sektor pertanian sekali gus meningkatkan pendapatan peserta; membangunkan ekonomi luar bandar; memupuk kerjasama antara agensi kerajaan; dan juga meningkatkan kemahiran dalam kalangan peserta.