Pairin launches Harvest Festival with a reminder about global warming

TAMBUNAN, April 23 (New Sabah Times) -- Rural farmers can protect themselves from the threat of water shortage in the future by practising the Rainwater Harvesting System and safeguarding water catchment areas in the forest.

Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan is confident that by doing so the farmers can help to reduce the problem of global warming.

“The government realises how important it is to protect water resources so that in the future the people are not faced with a shortage problem,” he said.

Pairin the Minister of Rural Development was speaking when launching the Harvest Festival celebration for the Mukim Lintuhun level at Kg Tondulu just 2km from here on Saturday.

He went on to quote an article that reported the National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM) was conducting a pilot project using the Rainwater Harvesting System.

The system basically entails each household to have a tank or vessel to store rainwater.

Initial studies indicate that households which adopt the system save up to 30 per cent in water bills each month besides being able to reduce between 10 to 50 per cent of the possibility of flash floods from occurring in their area.

Meanwhile, district officer, Thomas Angor urged cattle breeders to make full use of the 105-acre grazing area in Kg Tondulu which currently accommodates 56 cows.

He hoped it would encourage breeders to produce more milk, meat and even dung that can be processed into fertiliser.

Organising chairman of the celebration, Nestor Joannes took the opportunity to thank Pairin for implementing several projects in the village.

These consisted of the road leading to Kitou-Kiluang, construction of the balairaya and Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) secretariat and the distribution of water tanks.

Those present included the Tambunan Kadazandusun Cultural Association coordinating chairman, Daniel Kinsik, Tambunan PBRS divisional chief, Cyril P Yansalang and Tambunan People’s Development Leader, Wilfredoline Jakil.

The celebration saw two main events, the Unduk Ngadau contest and Sugandoi singing competition.

Dg Rashidah Ben was named the Sugandoi champion followed by Robert Kim Severinus and Anrie Joan Augustinus.