THE Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development will actively pursue industrialisation of the agriculture sector to mitigate the state’s food trade balance deficit which has risen in the last five years.
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said Sarawak recorded a food trade balance deficit of RM4.65 billion in 2021, compared to RM3.86 billion in 2018.
“The focus will be on several emerging agriculture sub-sectors and high-value agriculture products that have the potential to reduce our reliance on imports and generating greater export earnings.
“Emphasis will be given to establish more and larger designated farming areas, improve productivity, strengthen the food supply chain, improve the support system and services, increase farmers’ knowledge and skills as well as ensure market compliance,” he said.
Dr Rundi said this in his ministerial winding-up speech at the DUN sitting, Tuesday (May 23).
He said the ministry has been aggressively promoting the development of large-scale high value food crop production to achieve economy of scale and producing export quality farm products which includes the establishment of agroparks.
To date, Dr Rundi said the approved five agroparks located in Samarahan, Betong and Sarikei are in various stages of implementation.
“Out of the five agroparks, Sg Baji Agropark in Sarikei is in the final stage of completing the farm infrastructure and it is expected to commence operation in the third quarter of 2023.”
He said the ministry will continue to identify more land throughout the state that are free from any encumbrances to avoid implementation delays and seek full cooperation from relevant agencies.
Meanwhile, he said the approved development of Precision Farming Parks in Sg Sebiew Station, Bintulu and Kabuloh Station, Miri are currently in the design stage.
Dr Rundi said the parks will be a vital component in the commercial scale production of high value food crops and will be equipped with modern farming facilities such as automated machines, sensors and Internet of Things (IoT).
“The adoption of precise farming technology will ensure greater efficiency and productivity of high value food crops,” he added.
