BETONG: The palm oil industry in the state will be enhanced using digital technology called the “internet of things” (IoT) to increase productivity and maximise profits.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the move which will involve the Sarawak Centre of Excellence Centexs working in collaboration with Sarawak Land Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) will be implemented within six months from now.
“We want Centexs and Salcra to establish a partnership using the IoT system in the management of oil palm plantations,” he said.
“With this technology we will be able to monitor every aspect of oil palm management and plantation.”
Uggah, who is Modernization of Agriculture, Indigenous Lands and Regional Development Minister, revealed this to Sarawak Voice after officiating at Centexs-SMA Safari 2019 Betong programme at Dewan Gemilang yesterday.
To begin the pilot project Salcra will choose a number of farms in Betong area while Centexs is in charge of providing the technology.
“They will target 500 acres of oil palm plantations and we will evaluate the results.
“If it is successful we will use the technology in other areas as we are seeing many problems with conventional management methods even more so than roads and basic amenities.
“If this IoT can be implemented, everything will be easy. For example, drones can be used to monitor the fields,” he said.
The venture, according to Uggah, was an initiative of the state government to realise the digital economy. One of targets is the transformation of the agricultural system.
“Farming will definitely be different as we will use a different system for fertilizing, and the usage of IoT to increase productivity and reduce crop destruction.
“The system is proving successful throughout the world and that’s what we want to prove with a fertigation project at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Spaoh,” he explained.
He welcomed the efforts of Centexs in giving birth to and encouraging youths in the state to develop potential in technical and digital fields in preparation for the smart agricultural sector, especially in the state.
Also present at the function were Gerald Rentap Jabu, chief executive officer of Centexs Syeed Mohd Hussien Wan Abdul Rahman, Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) representative Carolineson Nosin, Betong Resident Friday Belik, and Betong District Officer Sofhi Jebal. – Sarawak Voice
