KUCHING: Farmers are encouraged to get involved in commercial rice cultivation to reduce dependence on the purchase of imported rice.
Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development (M-FICORD) Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said that rice farming in Sarawak was currently very low at 38 per cent and the rest depends on purchases from outside
“If Thailand and Vietnam refuse to sell us rice, what will we eat?
“Nowadays, our local farmers are more likely to be involved in palm oil plantations because it has a complete supply chain.
“Therefore, we need the cooperation of all parties such as the Department of Agriculture to provide guidance, training and so on to the farmers involved,” he said.
He said this at the Ngabang Gawai Waifm RTM Kuching Programme in collaboration with the Sarawak Department of Agriculture and the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) at RTM Parking C here yesterday.
He added that the agricultural industry was very important to raise income and living standards as well for the state’s food security.
In addition, it is necessary for RTM to channel all the information to the populace, especially in the rural areas such as in the longhouses to change their thinking towards the development of modern agriculture.
“We also need the cooperation of all parties to share about the benefits obtained if they (farmers) switch to modern agriculture,” he explained.
Also present at the ceremony were the Advisor at the Sarawak Premier’s Office (Sarawak Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development) Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development Martin Ben.
