Agro-sector remains pivotal in Sarawak’s economic growth, says Deputy Chief Minister
BINTULU: The agriculture sector plays a pivotal role in Sarawak’s economic growth, having contributed 12.8 per cent – or RM15.2 billion – to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year.
Adding on, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas points out that this sector also involves 23 per cent, or 299,000, of the 1.3 million-strong workforce in Sarawak.
“With the increase in the population, the contribution from the agriculture sector to the state’s economy could be increased further if we could utilise our natural resources,” he said in his speech at the opening of Bintulu Agrofest 2019 on the old airport site here yesterday.
His text-of-speech was read by Assistant Minister of Native Land Development Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn.
Adding on, Uggah said his Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development had outlined various strategies aimed at transforming the agro-sector in Sarawak.
“Three core transformation strategies are modernisation of agriculture, commercialisation and the use of digital technology application.”
He said the main target of Sarawak would be to become a key net exporter of food products by 2030, focusing on four main crops – pineapple, coconut, banana and durian, which hold big market presence in the Middle-East and China.
Uggah said strategic approaches must be taken to reduce the amount of imported food products, which recorded RM4.6 billion in 2017 against only RM1.01 billion in exports.
He added that the government would provide continuous training and exposure programmes set to elevate the skills and knowledge in farmers.
The deputy chief minister said agricultural commercialisation activities, partnership and collaborations with big companies for large-scale, high-technologybased estate management and livestock farming were among the efforts that had been taken.
In this respect, he regarded AgroPark as one of the concepts introduced to the ‘young agropreneurs’, getting them to be actively involved in the sector.
“From this concept, the government will provide a place that will be divided into several plots, and be equipped with basic amenities such as electricity (and) water (supply, telecommunications as well as a collection-processing-packaging centre.”
Meanwhile Bintulu Resident Jack Aman Luat – also the event’s co-organising chairman – said on its first day, Agrofest 2019 recorded total sales of about RM24,000.
The three-day event ends today.
Jack said the inaugural event, jointly organised with Sarawak Volunteers and other relevant agencies, attracted the participation of 97 agencies, private sectors and individuals.
“This is a platform for local agropreneurs to promote their products in our effort to increase our food production,” he said.
Yesterday, six local agropreneurs received various awards for their excellence in agriculture – Kudang Demang for the ‘Tani Jaya (Successful Farming) category, Hamidah Yusuf for ‘Food Processing’ category, Mujan Nyeigok for ‘Handicraft’ category, Nur Zaitul Amirah Ismail for ‘Aquaculture’ category, Mohren Mohammad for ‘Ruminant’ category, and Nayan Diman for ‘Non-Ruminant’ category. Each winner received RM600, as well as a certificate and a plaque of recognition.
Samalaju assemblyman Majang Renggi and Bintulu Development Authority general manager Rodziah Morshidi were also present at the event.