MIRI: Various strategic plans have been lined up by the state government to help farmers develop their export capacity and spread their sales abroad, said Sarawak Agriculture Department acting director Dr Alvin Chai.
He said that farmers in Sarawak have been encouraged to apply for the Malaysian Good Agriculture Practice or MyGAP certificate scheme to help boost their sales and penetrate markets abroad.
Speaking at the launch of agriculture products here yesterday, Chai opined that the MyGAP certificate would allow farmers to export their agricultural produce to countries such as Singapore, Brunei and even to China as it certifies that their products comply with the standards set in the respective countries.
“Currently, Sarawak Agriculture Department and Sabah with Fama are in the process of preparing the guidelines and procedures to export our agriculture products to Brunei Darussalam,” he revealed, adding that the guideline was effective since August 1 this year.
Chai also said that it would be implemented within three months from August 1.
As of August this year, the state Agriculture Department have received 337 applications for MyGAP.
A total of 164 applicants (out of 337) have been awarded with the certificates, while the remaining 171 are still awaiting approval and 13 certificates would be given within this year.
For the organic certification scheme or (myOrganic) for Sarawak, a total of five applications were received so far, and have been approved.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Assistant Minister Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said the state government is committed to increasing the farmers’ income via various initiatives.
“We want to ensure that by the year 2030, Sarawak will emerge as one of the agriculture countries that is able to export farming products abroad,” he revealed.
He added that under new approaches and initiatives made by the Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, the government would be transforming the (agriculture) sector with a modern touch.
Also present at the programme was Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting.
A total of 40 booths were set up during the three-day event which kicked off from Sept 6.
