Sarawak needs to revolutionise its agriculture sector in order to become self-sufficient in food production.
With an area of 124,450 sq km, Sarawak has a rather small population of about 3 million people, whereas Malaya has 132,490 sq km with a large population of 28.5 million people and Sabah with a smaller land mass of 73, 904 sq km has a population of 3.7 mil people.
In fact, Sarawak still has a large land bank suitable for various agricultural activities such as commercial agriculture focusing on rice production, cattle rearing, aquaculture, fruits and vegetable production.
Since taking over the reins of Sarawak’s administration in 2014, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg’s administration has spent a staggering sum of more than RM40 billion in modernising Sarawak in all sectors.
Through the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, the Sarawak government plans to achieve a developed status by 2030. Among PCDS 2030 main thrusts include manufacturing, services, tourism, forestry, mining and agriculture.
We must understand that the Premier’s philosophy is to have a balanced-economic growth focusing not merely on high tech such as green technology and green economy but also on the so-called ‘traditional’ industry such as agriculture which has not been highlighted vigorously.
Lest the people forget, the Premier is, in fact, very enthusiastic to revolutionise our so-called ‘traditional’ industry – i.e. agriculture.
Under the 2025 budget, Sarawak will allocate RM376.72 million to empower the agricultural sector aimed at transforming and diversifying its economy.
In his address during the second reading of the Sarawak Budget 2025 at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Monday (Nov 11), the Premier outlined key allocations aimed at bolstering the agricultural sector. The allocations are as follows:
RM1 billion has been approved for paddy cultivation infrastructure with RM51 million will be allocated in 2025. The focus planting areas cover Stumbin Bijat, Lingga-Banting, Seduku, Gran, Entulang, Tanjung Purun, Lubok Punggor, Sundar and Limbang. On top of this, a sum of RM50 million has been set aside for land acquisition, particularly for Tanjung Purun Paddy Scheme in Kuching.
This allocation is aimed at achieving 100 per cent self-sufficiency level in rice. As such, various key initiatives have been taken, including expanding paddy cultivation areas, rehabilitating drainage and irrigation systems, implementing farm mechanism, and utilising high-yield seeds alongside sustainable agriculture practices.
Thus far, approximately 14,000 hectares have been designated for paddy cultivation across Sarawak. Sarawak’s current rice production reaches only 32 per cent of its needs. Thus, it still import the balance which amounted to 153,000 metric tonnes last year, valued at RM401 million. Therefore, there is an urgent need to produce enough rice to be self-sufficient.
In order to prove that Sarawak can achieve the goal to become self-sufficient in rice production, the Premier has launched a pilot project in Gedong on a 1ha farm which has successfully yielded 8 tonnes of rice in 2030.
It is believed that the new rice-growing areas in Sarawak will be able to achieve its target of self-sufficiency. At the same time, rice production in Sarawak will be able to raise the national self-sufficiency ratio of between 70 to 75 per cent from the current 68 per cent.
- Structured cattle breeding programme
In 2023, Sarawak’s beef self-sufficiency level stood at just 13 per cent. With imports totalling RM229 million. Due to that, the Sarawak government has launched key initiatives to increase the cattle population to address this gap.
Among these, RM10.6 million will be allocated in 2025 to established cattle breeding and fattening farms in Kuching, Serian and Betong. These centres will adopt Artificial Insemination technology to drive efficient and sustainable cattle breeding, supporting Sarawak’s path towards greater beef self-sufficiency.
For the aquaculture sector, RM20.9 million will be used to upgrade the Loba Stoh Aquaculture Park in Rambungan to enhance shrimp production, and RM9.5 million will be allocated for an aquaculture park in Samariang Batu, Kuching, to support inland fisheries.
Sarawak will continue to intensify the development of necessary agriculture infrastructure and facilities to accelerate the agriculture transformation agenda. Towards this end, RM41.6 million will be allocated for the development of farm infrastructure such as farm roads, drainage and irrigation infrastructure.
An additional RM8 million will be allocated to strengthen marketing for the Collection, Packaging, and Processing Centre (CPPC).
While RM30.4 million for food crop development, RM5.9 million for inland fisheries, RM17.4 million for livestock, and RM7.9 million for agricultural training and mechanisation.
- Sarawak Agrotechnology Park (SARTECH)
RM31 million is allocated for SARTECH Tarat, Serian and another RM30 million for SARTECH Semenggok in Kuching, aimed at attracting global tech-based firms to Sarawak.
The budget also allocates RM60 million under the 12th Malaysia Plan for the development of Precision Farming Parks in Sg. Sebiew, Bintulu, and Kabuloh, Miri, with RM40 million earmarked for 2025.
- Metropolitan Food Cluster in Opar
To further promote modern farming, RM18 million of a total RM60 million will be dedicated to establishing a Metropolitan Food Cluster in Opar, modelled after the Netherlands.
RM6 million will be allocated to support the development of agro-park infrastructure to attract private investment in commercial agriculture, with a focus on creating a robust supply chain for commodities such as pineapple, coconut, banana, durian, shrimp, fish, and cattle.
- State Farmers Organisation (SFO) and Area Farmer’s Organisation (AFO)
To further enhance agricultural marketing efforts, RM10.9 million will be allocated for SFO with an additional RM4.6 million for AFO.
- Capacity-building programs for farmers
In addition, a sum of RM1.22 million will go towards capacity-building programs for farmers, agro-entrepreneurs, and rural communities to enhance smart agriculture and ICT literacy.
For the support of agro-entrepreneurs, RM12.7 million will be allocated to the Sarawak Agro Fund to provide financing opportunities for local businesses in the agricultural sector.
With these allocations, the Sarawak government is positioning the agricultural sector as one of the key pillars under PCDS 2030, focusing on sustainable growth, modernisation, and increased self-sufficiency in order to achieve a developed status by 2030. -UKAS
