SEREMBAN, The Negeri Sembilan government is taking proactive steps to boost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth by focusing on the agricultural sector. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said that this initiative includes granting temporary occupation licences (LPS) to farmers to stimulate agricultural activities and enhance the sector's contribution to the state economy. 'The state government has approved LPS applications for farmers interested in cultivating cash crops, alongside developing land parcels under 2.42 hectares for other profitable agricultural and livestock ventures. 'Farmers will cultivate crops that yield profit, hence the state's support through LPS approvals to ensure the viability of the agricultural industry. Additionally, there are applications for bamboo cultivation, but we do not have a large area for bamboo cultivation,' he told reporters after chairing the state executive council meeting. Furthermore, Aminuddin highlighted the potential of the durian industry among small a nd medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Jelebu, Tampin, Lenggeng, and Kuala Pilah districts. 'We are seeing a lot of new land being cultivated for durian. During the current durian season, there are indeed many lorries going in and out of the Jelebu area, which is a positive development,' he said. Regarding GDP growth, he said that the state recorded a 1.8 per cent growth in 2023, driven by the service and manufacturing sectors, but the agricultural sector saw a slight contraction to 4.9 per cent. 'We are not entirely satisfied with these figures. We are optimistic that we can achieve more. That's why we are focusing not only on production and manufacturing sectors but also on improving performance across all sectors,' he added. Source: BERNAMA News Agency