Ongkili : Mardi crucial in technology transfer
Saturday, 13 September 2003

SEPANGGAR: The Chief Minister's Science and Technology Advisor Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili described the Malaysian Agricultural Development Institute (Mardi) as a crucial catalyst in effecting technology transfer in Sabah especially in agriculture and food processing sector.

Speaking to New Sabah Times after attending a briefing by Sabah Mardi director Mohamed bin Hj Yaakob at his office in Sepanggar today, Ongkili said Mardi was fulfilling its role effectively in developing agricultural technology and transferring such innovations to the private sector and farming communities.

"Mardi is famous for its perennial R&D work on agriculture-related issues, particularly agricultural productivity and food processing. The branch office in Sabah acts essentially as a promoter of agricultural technologies and skills provider in food processing as well as coordinator of collaborative research between Sabah agencies and Mardi Serdang.

"The range of technologies available especially for food processing of all kinds are enormous. Actually, there is hardly any food-related product that Mardi doesnt have the necessary technology for processing.

"The challenge for Mardi is to disseminate information and promote such innovations to the public through technical seminars, training courses and promotional exhibitions especially in the agricultural districts," he stressed.

Ongkili who is also Bandau MP and PBS deputy president urged agricultural entrepreneurs to visit personally or make contact with the Sabah Mardi office through its website and examine the numerous types of food processing technologies available for agribusiness.

He said modernisation of the agricultural sector as stressed by Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman's Halatuju will depend critically on the adoption of new technologies and innovations in order to increase productivity, maketability and business incomes of producers.