KUCHING: Agriculture holds the potential to uplift B40 farming communities, helping them break out of poverty, said Minister for Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development (M-FICORD) Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
“By advancing and refining farming policies, we can drive Sarawak towards becoming a high-income state.
“However, it is meaningless to call Sarawak prosperous if its farmers remain impoverished,” he said during the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) Appreciation Dinner 2024 held at Penview Convention Centre (PCC) here on Saturday.
In relation to this, Dr Rundi aimed to follow examples of developed countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Poland, which succeeded in reaching global markets by prioritising quality.
“The integration of modern technology and innovative strategies is viewed as a critical step in addressing challenges and achieving the goals outlined in the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
“Our Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is a visionary who focuses on future development.
“If we remain stuck in our usual ways of doing things, we will fail to keep up with the pace of progress,” he said.
Meanwhile, a total of 21 staff received the Excellent Service Award (APC) and six retirees were celebrated during the ceremony.
Present were Dr Rundi’s wife, Datin Seri Loreta Sawot, Premier of Sarawak advisor (Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development) Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, M-FICORD deputy minister Datuk Martin Ben, M-FICORD permanent secretary Datuk Sirai Daha, Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak director Datuk Dr Adrian Susin Ambud, Department of Agriculture Sarawak director Dominic Chunggat and other guests.
