BINTULU: Sarawak will draw up a master plan to develop its agriculture industry and improve the security of the state’s food supply.
Minister for Agricultural Modernisation and Regional Development, Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom hoped that his ministry could improve the image of the industry so that the younger generation can venture into the field of food production in addition to earning a good income from it.
“The future of the world depends on food and that’s why food safety is so important now,” he said when officiating the opening of Koperasi Petani Bintulu Sarawak Berhad’s AgroMart here.
He added that there was a need for a complete food supply chain, such as the development of plant seeds and animal feed.
According to him, the younger generation holds an important role in the future security of the state’s food supply chain, because they are more technologically savvy and can use the latest technology to benefit from smart agriculture.
“Therefore, we must be able to be self-sufficient. If we want to venture into commercial agriculture, you must be able to increase the scale by using the right technology.”
He also hoped that cooperatives, including local farmers would work together to establish an organisation as a platform for local farmers to discuss and exchange agricultural techniques to maximise production and support the government’s policy to strengthen the food supply chain.
Sharing his experience during a recent working visit to the Netherlands, he expressed his admiration for agricultural practices in the country.
Dr Rundi, who is also Kemena assemblyman, said the Netherlands had already supplied agricultural products throughout Europe with a supply chain to deliver products directly to the target market after harvesting.
“For the Sarawak government, what we need to do is facilitate the provision of infrastructure, land availability and organise training programmes to attract the interest of the younger generation to venture into the field of smart agriculture.”
At the event, Dr Rundi also presented five Musang King durian seedlings to the first 100 participants who came to the event.
Also present were the deputy director of the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM) Sarawak, Liew Liuk Chim, the assistant director of SKM Bintulu Division, Husnadila Maliki @Julai and the chairman of the Bintulu Farmers Cooperative Berhad, Wong Hau Ming.
