SIBU: Smallholders must embrace a commercial approach and adopt modern technologies going forward so as to improve the rural economy.
Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said presently smallholders are still practising subsistence farming and having small plots of farms that are both scattered and fragmented.
“Thus, I have advised my ministry and the agencies to practise an outcome-based approach in their programme and project implementation, where elements of ringgit and sen and value-for-money are taken into consideration,” he said at the Department of Agriculture Senior Officers’ Conference 2023 dinner at a hotel here on Friday (July 7).
More than 300 participants, including officers from the department and various other agencies had earlier attended the three-day conference.
Rundi said there is also a need to change the mindset of the people, especially the youth, pertaining to their perception that agriculture is associated with low wages, labour-intensive, low applications of technology, traditional agriculture practices, insufficient injection of capital, unorganised farming communities, poverty and that agriculture is all about rural areas.
“I strongly believe that this negative perception needs to be changed. In fact, agriculture is no longer as such but rather a lucrative and profitable venture.
“It is knowledge-based, high income, about digital and high-tech applications, modern management practices, capital-intensive and greater market access.
“All these I believe can be achieved through constant engagement with farmers via the department’s extension programmes,” he said.
He said transforming it into a vibrant and profitable economic sector will attract the youngsters and professionals.
Emphasis, he said, will therefore be given to establish more and larger designated farming areas, improve productivity, strengthening the food supply chain, improving the support system and services, increasing farmers’ knowledge and skills as well to ensuring market compliance.
In his speech earlier, Agriculture director Dominic Chunggat said the conference was held to revisit developments and updates on policies, strategies and pertinent issues in the agriculture sector, share knowledge and experiences on new technologies and applications, and enhance engagement and involvement among stakeholders in their efforts to develop the sector.
He said the theme of the conference, “Towards Sustainable Agri-Food”, was anchored on three key pillars of sustainability, namely social inclusivity, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability, as highlighted in the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).
“In total, 30 papers were presented, which included two policy papers, 15 scientific papers and 13 information papers,” he said.
On the launch of new logo for the department and the e-Tani system, he said the department believed that there is a need to come up with a new departmental logo to reflect its commitment to the transformation of the agriculture sector towards modern and sustainable agriculture, as outlined in the PCDS 2030.
He said the launch of the e-Tani system is in response to the State Civil Service’s digital economy and digitalisation initiatives.
Through the development of the e-Tani system, he said the department will be able to digitalise its services, which will be accessible to the agro-community with internet access.
The e-Tani system will be developed in phases,with the first phase allowing the public to register as farmers and apply for relevant agriculture assistance programmes or incentives, which include crop development, inland fisheries development, and agro-based industry development, he added.
Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (Food Industry Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (Commodity & Regional Development) Martin Ben, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Native Law and Customs) Jefferson Jamit Unyat and Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assan were also present.
