BINTULU: The Sarawak government through the Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Ministry (MANRED) aims to export up to RM1 billion worth of shrimps per year by 2030.
Its minister Datuk Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said it was part of an effort to make the state an exporter of clean food products by 2030.
Towards that end, he said, Sarawak needed 7,000 hectares of land to be used as shrimp ponds.
“Shrimps have been exported to several countries such as Japan, New Zealand and other countries with an export value of RM400 million per year,” he said.
He said this at a media briefing after presenting grants for Minor Rural Projects (MRPs) and the Sarawak Poor Home Improvement Project (PPRMS) for Kemena constituency today (Sept 22).
Dr Rundi who is also the Kemena rep said in order to achieve that goal, the ministry will continue to empower the agricultural sector through modern agriculture in an effort to increase productivity while also commercialising the aquaculture industry.
He noted that his side had identified the State Farmers’ Organisation Sarawak (SFO) to carry that responsibility for business drivers.
The SFO, he said, had signed several joint ventures with the private sector to increase food production.
Dr Rundi added that the Sarawak government also always helps players in agriculture, plantation and animal husbandry to develop the potential of their products by using new technology as a transformation.
