KENINGAU: Rural Development Ministry (KPLB) will be working closely with Asia’s prominent agricultural entrepreneur, Prof Datuk Yap Yun Fook to develop Mini Estate Sejahtera (Mesej) agricultural programme in Sabah.
Its minister Ewon Benedick said Yap’s expertise as a mentor for the country’s agro-entrepreneurs recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MoA), would be useful to develop KPLB’s empty lands as Mesej agriculture.
“KPLB has a number of undeveloped lands, and we will be planting high commercial plants.
“Mesej participants will be planting according to Yap’s requests and he will be buying the crops. It is a win-win collaboration.
“This is the initial planning, and we will finalise it after an official meeting with him,” said Ewon to reporters after visiting Yap’s agricultural land at Kampung Ansip, here, recently.
Ewon, who is also Kadamain assemblyman, said the state cabinet had agreed that Sabah KPLB explores other than commodities, such as rubber and palm oil.
“After visiting Yap’s success crops and livestock I believe his expertise in this field is needed and we can use it to develop our agricultural Mesej.
“Yap, as one of the state’s advisors in agricultural sector has been giving KPLB useful input and I believe it can be developed because we have many empty lands for this,” he said.
During the visit, delegates from KPLB were given the opportunity to see Yap’s fish pond, bird’s nest farm and other crops, including compost fertiliser processing.
Yap started his journey with only two cows in 1982 and today he is one of successful businessmen in Sabah, while his farm Ladang Eco Yap in Keningau was also announced as the largest milk producer in Malaysia.
Yap is the recipient of Malaysian Livestock Industri Award 2018, Panelist of Bengkel Hala Tuju Institut Penyelidikan dan Kemajuan Pertanian Malaysia (MARDI) and also Adjunct Professor of Univeriti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
Also present during the event were assistant minister to the KPLB Rasinin Koutis, KPLB permanent secretary Fredian Gan and also officers from Keningau District Office.
Source: https://www.theborneopost.com/2019/10/11/ministry-works-with-entrepreneur-to-develop-mesej-ewon/