Department of Agriculture to be revamped starting Jan 1

THE Department of Agriculture (DOA) will undergo a re-organisation exercise with effect from Jan 1 next year.

According to Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, the revamp would enable the department to be in a better position to play a pivotal role in its quest to complement the state government’s aspiration to achieve Vision 2020.

“In preparation for the forthcoming 11th Malaysia Plan (2016 to 2020), I have continued to work very closely with senior members of my ministry and DOA together with the State Secretary in designing a very comprehensive revamping and restructuring plan aimed at giving an overall improvement to give effective delivery to the people by concentrating on four major components in line with DOA Sarawak’s vision — ‘A Transformed High Income Agriculture Community by 2020’,” he said when presenting his winding-up speech yesterday.

He said the four major components were field research to enable successful research finding to be immediately adopted by the farmers, increasing productivity by the farmers through good management and the use of biotechnological advancement and mechanisation, processing to get higher added values for the products, and marketing which would be intensified by the government so that farmers could get increased volume in sales to a wider market and enjoy better income.

“Basically the revamped Agriculture Structure Plan is aimed to strategically organise DOA 2,700 officers into three operational zones with a view to improve and accelerate our agriculture service deliveries to the rural communities.

The three zones are northern zone comprising Bintulu, Miri and Limbang divisions; central zone comprising Mukah, Sibu, Sarikei and Kapit divisions, and southern zone comprising Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman and Betong divisions complementing the ordinary function of the DOA headquarters in Kuching.

Another key feature of the new DOA involved the creation of 37 critical senior posts (Jawatan Berasaskan Caruman) to beef up and strengthen the new focus for research, production, processing and marketing at the three operational zones with the primary aim of increasing overall efficiency and capacity thus providing great opportunities for farmers, stock breeders and fishermen to earn better income.

He said the new DOA would serve as a catalyst for rural transformation through the setting up of 46 Rural Agriculture Project Stations (RAPS) throughout the state.

“In the past three years, I have also requested for 46 RAPS to be built by the government in coastal areas and in the many remote areas in rural Sarawak.

“Each of these RAPS will be manned by one senior staff in-charge, to be assisted by two agriculture assistants, and two home extensions female officers to provide home economic services for women folk in rural areas and two drivers.

He said each of these RAPS would have appropriate functional new office premises, comfortable accommodation and the necessary support logistics to enable it to be effective in serving the need of the state’s rural farming communities.

“Once completed, they will become important rural institutions and as major stepping stones for government officers and government agencies to serve the people in rural areas throughout Sarawak.”

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/12/17/department-of-agriculture-to-be-revamped-starting-jan-1-jabu/#ixzz3uX4n5HTF