KOTA KINABALU: A group of senior officials from the Malaysian Pepper Board (MPB) recently made a courtesy visit to the Deputy Chairman of Sawit Kinabalu Group, Dato’ Victor P. Paut, here.
The delegation was led by the Sabah Regional Director, Mr Lee Shiaw Tong, along with other officials including Mr Rema Anak Jalil, Assistant Director, and Mr Yasier Bin Rahim, Assistant Economic Affairs Officer.
The purpose of this courtesy visit was to strengthen the strategic cooperation between the Malaysian Palm Board and Sawit Kinabalu, particularly in the development of the agricultural sector and enhancing economic opportunities for rural communities in Sabah.
During the discussion, the MPB also shared various initiatives and assistance available to pepper farmers in Sabah for the year 2026.
Among the assistance and grants that farmers can apply for are:
* New pepper planting assistance
* Agricultural input support such as fertilisers and pesticides
* Pepper farm development grants
* Irrigation system and small farm infrastructure assistance
* Training programmes and skill development for pepper farmers
* Marketing support and quality improvement for pepper products
* Entrepreneurship support programmes for local pepper entrepreneurs
Meanwhile, Victor welcomed MPB’s efforts to assist farmers in Sabah during the meeting and expressed hope that more rural communities could benefit from the assistance and programmes provided to improve their economic status and family income.
The meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere, filled with a spirit of cooperation aimed at strengthening the development of the agricultural sector in Sabah.
