High commodity diversity income of Sarawak farmers

Deputy Prime Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embassy said the approach is important to ensure that farmers have additional sources of income in addition to reducing risk if there is a drop in price of a commodity.

"So this is not to replace but to support so that they can increase income profits and when a commodity's price drops there is one commodity that might save farmers from being affected by the fall in prices.

"We also asked the Ministry to find ways to help farmers against our rising fertilizer prices and other ways and we also want farmers in Sarawak to register in agri commodity buddies as there is assistance", he explained.

According to him, the Sarawak government remains committed to finding suitable approaches to increase farmers' incomes through efforts under the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development (M-FICORD), including close cooperation with the Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Commodities.

He said support was also provided in identifying appropriate methods and use of technology to increase agricultural productivity and yields for the benefit of farmers.

"With a program like this at least they will reveal the potential of agriculture which is a huge potential that we have to keep on building and we saw some people who are certified, could be Ambassadors of the Agrikomodity Squad in this program all these young people and they're the ones we want to celebrate because now the agricultural industry is an adult society.

"So we hope that young people are also attracted so they use technology, use new production, new productivity and we also determine that as now concrete is producing fresh pepper but there if we go down to the first we can open a second job it can only increase farmers' incomes", he said after the inaugural 2026 Pepper Industry Sustainability Seminar in Spaoh on Thursday.

Uggah said the programme that provides exposure to the potential of agriculture should continue to be highlighted as a platform for guidance and information to agricultural communities, including young people.

He said cooperation with various parties including government agencies and private companies was also encouraged to ensure more Sarawak agricultural products can be raised and promoted.

According to him, the efforts are in line with the aspiration of the Government of Sarawak through the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 to increase incomes of people including farmers up to RM15,000 per family.

The Lada Industry Sustainability Seminar 2026 hosted by the Board of Lada Malaysia also saw the appointment of three Ambassadors of Agrikomoditi Squad, Lada Sector and the presentation of the Malaysian Lada Industry Award (AILM) 2025.

The awards included the categories of Best Small Farmers, Best Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as well as Best Lada Exporters.

Subsequently, the submission of grants for Premium Lada cultivation, Matang Lada Plant Management, Farm Facilities and Facility Assistance as well as Garden Mechanization Assistance was held symbolically with a total amount of RM1.202 million.

The aid will benefit 150 farmers involving 43.2 hectares of crops in Betong.

The same meeting also saw the exchange of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between Board Lada Malaysia (MPB) and Sarawak Oil Palms Berhad (SOPB), as well as MPB with Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad. -TVS