KUCHING: Shrimp production in Sarawak is expected to increase to 13,000 metric tons by 2030 compared to 4,416 metric tons of shrimp produced in 2016. This was revealed by Deputy Chief Minister cum Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas in his ministerial winding up speech at the August House Thursday.
“The existing (shrimp production) companies presently have access to markets in Australia, China, New Zealand, Japan, European Union and Singapore,” he said.
On agro-based industry, Uggah disclosed that the 993 agropreneurs that are monitored by Department of Agriculture Sarawak were able to generate sales volume of RM45.5 million in 2018.
Among the agrobased products that has potential for commercialisation are the dehydrated fruits and vegetables, crisps and crackers, and sauces.
“On dehydrated fruits and vegetables, a local company in Miri is now producing the dehydrated Terung Mas and dehydrated Jambu Batu for local market.
“On crisps and crackers, a company in Kuching Division is producing bitter gourd crisps or commonly known as Peria Garing for local market. The company has a sales volume of RM1.2 million in 2018.
“While on sauces, we have a young graduate who is growing Cili Geronong and processing it into chilli sauce, chilli paste and chilli powder. He is able to earn an income of about RM20,000 a month in 2018 from his enterprise,” he elaborated.
Apart from that, Uggah also mentioned venturing into new industry which is gula apong (nipah sugar).
“Sarawak is blessed with abundant nipah palm along its coastal areas. In view of this, my ministry has taken steps to turn this resource into a new source of income,” he said.
“At present, there is a Kuching-based company exporting ‘gula apong’ products to Hong Kong, South Korea, New Zealand and Canada. The products include natural sugar, ‘gula apong’ spread, granules and syrup. In 2018, the company exported 19 metric tons of those products.”
