KUCHING: Sarawak plans to implement precision farming practices, similar to those implemented by Brunei Darussalam.
Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom it is crucial to enhance food production in the state, particularly rice cultivation.
He said he will visit Brunei today (Feb 29) to study the sultanate’s farming practices.
“I understand that Brunei has achieved some successes in this field, and it can be adopted in Sarawak.
“We actually have the Sarawak Agrotechnology Park (SARTECH) in Semenggok, and the rest is related to precision farming,” he told a press conference during the courtesy visit by the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism of Brunei Darussalam Dato Seri Setia Dr. Abdul Manaf Metussin and his delegation at the Waterfront Hotel here yesterday (Feb 28).
For the record, the state government previously allocated RM90 million to build three precision agro parks in Rampangi, Kuching; Sungai Sibiew, Bintulu; and Kabuluh, Miri.
The project, which is expected to begin sometime around this year, will also focus on high-value vegetable cultivation such as tomatoes, chilies, ginger and shallots.
Once the state increases production, he said, what is important is to create a complete supply chain, research and development (R&D), marketing and production.
“So there are many things we need to do, and we have developed very good farming practices in order to become exporters.
“Brunei is our neighbour, and its location is between Sabah and Sarawak.
“Looking at the efforts we are making, I feel it is better for us to collaborate to strengthen our production,” he added.
Dr Rundi explained that issues related to agro-tourism were also among the matters discussed during the courtesy visit, aside from sharing about new technologies.
“We have also identified several areas for potential cooperation, one of which is on food security, which is largely focused on rice production or cultivation.
“At the same time, we also discussed commercial livestock farming for the industry up to the downstream level,” he explained.
The programme, which continued with a dinner, was also attended by Deputy Ministers Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail and Datuk Martin Ben.
