LUNDU: Sarawak is very committed in wanting to become a net exporter of food and food products through its agricultural sector by the year 2030.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said towards this end, new plans and projects are being worked out while others have been implemented or are being enhanced.
He said this after visiting a group of 48 senior officers from his Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Ministry who were on a three-day brainstorming session at Salcra Bajo Training Centre here to work out plans and projects to be recommended for the coming 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025).
“When we can achieve this, we can eradicate the remnant of rural poverty and reduce the income gap between our urban and rural areas as well.
“Therefore, we are looking at the products and land assets that we have.
“We are also trying to identify the available land that can be developed and those not properly developed. For instance, there are about 81,000 acres under the Drainage and Irrigation Department paddy scheme not properly done,” he stated.
Uggah added they are planning to develop new areas or redevelop these under-developed areas to help boost food production.
He said one of the areas that the ministry will be looking at is how to spearhead precision farming, including the greater usage of Internet of Things (IoT).
He noted that another key interest is how to encourage more young people to become agropreneurs through modern options such as the fertigation system.
Among those present were the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Awang Johari Awang Mustapha, state Agriculture Department Director Dr Alvin Chai and his deputy Ngap Dollah Salam, director of the state Veterinary Services Department Dr Adrian Susin and a political secretary to the chief minister Dr Richard Rapu.
