KUCHING: The regional government is implementing an effort to develop smart agriculture in Lubok Punggor to increase the production of rice.
According to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, in order to realise this plan, the development of the necessary infrastructure will start this year.
“The work to connect Ulu Simunjan and Gedong through the Gedong-Samaladong route will begin within three months and take 36 months to complete.
“Once it is completed, it will make it easier for us to develop the Lubok Punggor as a modern agricultural area using smart agriculture that will produce paddy,” he said when met by the media after his work visit at Gedong here today (Jan 21).
Commenting further on the plan, he noted that smart agriculture would be implemented by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
“Thus far, they have received good cooperation from the farmers.
“What is required right now is a shift in how we see the use of technology in producing _beras biris_ in the area,” he said.
Having said that, Abang Johari stated that in order to boost the rice yield, he had instructed the university to not only double the rice production in 18 months (three harvests), but also to raise the value of rice from the downstream angle.
“This is the new technology that we have, and we have identified a field lab of approximately 30 acres in Lubok Punggor,” he said.
The premier added that the regional government had also collaborated with the landowners in order to construct a laboratory where the university could conduct research on rice.
“If the research is a success, we will introduce smart agriculture into other districts, including Sri Aman,” he said.
