KOTA KINABALU : – Collaborative efforts involving the Kiulu Assemblyman’s Office, Community Development Leader Unit, and the Tuaran Department of Agriculture (DoA) are underway to fully harness Kiulu’s agricultural potential and enhance the local community’s economy.
Kiulu Assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the initiative to aggressively focus on agricultural development was being taken following the success of turning Kiulu into a rural tourism destination.
“Agriculture and tourism are closely linked sectors that can significantly transform Kiulu’s rural landscape.
“By improving infrastructure, planning strategically, and sharing knowledge, we can create opportunities to boost agricultural productivity and enhance tourism experiences based on our rich natural resources,” he said.
On Wednesday (March 12), Joniston had a meeting with Tuaran Senior Agriculture Officer TS Nor Shafareena Hamsa and her officers at the Tuaran DoA office to discuss agricultural development in the Kiulu subdistrict and potential collaboration.
During the briefing, Joniston was informed that Kiulu was selected for a high-yielding paddy pilot project launched in Kampung Tompinahaton late last year.
To support agricultural growth in his constituency, Joniston has taken the bold decision to set aside RM1.5 million of his ADUN allocation to upgrade existing agricultural roads and build new ones.
“Based on the record from the Kiulu Subdistrict Office, there are 73 agricultural roads in Kiulu, and we plan to improve many of them.
“Approximately 40 agricultural roads will be upgraded this year, while some new ones will also be constructed.
“We are also focusing on providing the necessary know-how and motivation for youths, especially unemployed graduates, to venture into agriculture and tourism while waiting for job placements,” added Joniston.
He said the initiative aligns with the Sabah Maju Jaya development plan, which emphasises agricultural growth as a key pillar in boosting the state’s economy and reducing its food import bill.
“Our goal is to establish Kiulu as a model of integrated rural development that benefits all levels of the community, especially in economic empowerment and creation of employment opportunities,” he stressed.
Joniston said the setting up a pineapple and ginger processing factory and a hill paddy packing facility in Kiulu are also in the pipeline.
“Despite being a rural constituency, we are optimistic that with proper planning, Kiulu would prosper in tourism, agriculture and manufacturing in line with the SMJ development blueprint,” he said.
