Kota Kinabalu: Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar has urged elected representatives, heads of departments and State Government administrators to use locally grown fruits as gifts to support Sabah farmers and the agriculture sector.
He said imported fruits such as apples and grapes should be replaced with local produce when visiting hospital patients, attending weddings or presenting souvenirs to help farmers market their harvest.
Jamawi said the ministry, through the Sabah Agriculture Department, Sabah Rubber Industry Board (LIGS) and related agencies, can assist in improving the packaging of local produce to make it more suitable as gifts.
He said the ministry's Kitchen Garden programme had attracted about 3,000 participants within its first six months, against an initial five-year target of 5,000, with plans to introduce a special incentive or recognition scheme during this year's Farmers' Day.
Jamawi said the programme would also be expanded to urban areas through cooperation with local authorities and to schools from next year, with early emphasis on institutions offering agriculture subjects to promote food security awareness among students.
