SIPITANG: The Persatuan Keluarga Keturunan Pahlawan Ontoros @ Antenom (Pusaka) organised a Kitchen Garden Tour to encourage its members to venture into agriculture, livestock farming and food production as sources of family income.
The programme also supported the kitchen garden initiative introduced by State Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Haji Jamawi Jaafar, which encourages communities to utilise available land and space to produce food.
Pusaka President Sinawat @ Welly Antakah said the tour was among the activities held in conjunction with the association’s monthly meeting at Kampung Damai, Sipitang, last Saturday.
He said the programme allowed Pusaka to see first-hand the efforts of members who had started agricultural and livestock activities using their own resources, despite not yet receiving government assistance.
Among those visited were Monica Damong, who runs a broiler chicken farm, and Ugai Tamang, who operates an integrated farming project involving cotton lime, papaya, coffee and Musang King durian.
Sinawat said both entrepreneurs had started their respective ventures using their own capital as an initial step towards expanding their economic activities.
Monica said she planned to expand her broiler chicken operation and hoped to receive government assistance to support the venture.
Meanwhile, Ugai expressed hope of receiving guidance and advisory services from the Department of Agriculture to improve the management and production of his integrated farming project.
The group also visited café operator Richard Padan, who runs Do’ Leo Kitchen, a food business developed by a local entrepreneur.
Sinawat said Pusaka would apply to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry for appropriate assistance and support for members involved in agriculture and food production-related enterprises.
“This tour is not only to see the progress of members’ ventures, but also to encourage them to continue striving and expanding the fields they are involved in,” he said.
During the programme, Pusaka also presented tokens of appreciation in the form of equipment suited to the entrepreneurs’ respective fields as a gesture of support and encouragement.
A demonstration on planting Musang King durian was also held at the farm of a Pusaka member in Kampung Marau, Sipitang.
Also participating in the tour were Pusaka committee members and bureau chairpersons.