KUCHING: Sarawak government is committed to increase the income of the B40 households to RM6,000 per month by 2030 through modern farming and other agricultural activities.
Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said Sarawak has rich resources, including a lot of land, for agriculture purposes.
However, he said, Sarawak is still lacking the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) technology or high-tech agriculture in both livestock production and crop production.
“Thus, we need to modernise the agriculture sector to attract the young generation and professionals to take up farming as a career or business. We need more talents (to join us) to develop smart farming systems,” he said.
“We want to help the local smallholders to become commercial producers by increasing the quality and quantity of their crop or livestock – through smart farming or technology. We hope they can fulfil the demand from the local market and to explore opportunities to export their products,” he added.
As such, Rundi said it is hoped it can increase the income of the farmers, especially those from B40 group, and to ensure they have a better and secure future and wellbeing.
Speaking at the launch of the ‘Red Claw Crayfish Culture Seminar’ held here today, he said, Sarawak will continue to work with local industry players as well as those from overseas, who have the knowledge to apply and adopt IoT in agriculture and urban farming.
Rundi said the event was for those who were interested to venture into the red claw crayfish industry to expand their businesses, due to the increasing popularity of the species.
He said the species promoted by the Sarawak Agriculture Department has a high market price – up to RM85 per kilogram.
“Thus, we are coming up with strategies and initiatives to help those who are interested in the red claw crayfish industry,” he said.
“The Sarawak government is looking into more collaborations with the private sector that has the technology, management expertise, capital and access markets to drive the development of the aquaculture industry in Sarawak,” he added.
Rundi also witnessed the signing of licence agreement between the Agriculture Department and Thien Yen Aquaculture Sdn Bhd at the same event, which involved a collaboration between two parties to develop a crayfish commercial farm for research and development at the Tarat Agriculture Station.
He said this was part of the government’s efforts to help Sarawak becomes a net exporter of food products and high-income society by 2030.
