Premier: Sarawak’s massive landmass provides huge opportunities for food production

Martin (centre) officates the Sustainable Foods International Conference 2024 held at a hotel in Kuching on Aug 13, 2024. Photo credit: M-FICORD

By Ashley Sim

KUCHING, Aug 13: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has highlighted that Sarawak’s total landmass of 12.4 million hectares presents a huge opportunity for food cultivation and production.

According to Abang Johari, Sarawak aims to become a net food exporter by 2030, and in order to achieve its food security and resilience goals, the State needs to produce 240,000 metric tonnes of paddy in order to avoid importing rice and become self-sufficient for local consumption.

“What the Sarawak government is trying to do is to change the whole perception of our agriculture so that food production is highly valued and perceived as an industry for building agropreneurs,” he said.

The speech delivered by Abang Johari was read by Sarawak Minister for Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development (M-FICORD), Datuk Maclaine @ Martin Ben, who represented him to officiate at the Sustainable Foods International Conference 2024 held today at a local hotel here.

“The food trade deficit in Sarawak in 2022 was about RM5.6 billion, which was a huge amount for the State. For this purpose of increasing our food production, industries are encouraged to use high-yielding paddy varieties, adopt the latest technology, and implement innovative farm management to improve rice productivity.”

Abang Johari also mentioned the involvement of international entities at the Sustainable Foods International Conference 2024, including the Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia, Sino Carbon Investment Beijing, Hainan Ports, Hainan International Emissions Trading Centre, Shantou Tourism Association, and E-Spain Gastronomy Centre.

“I encourage the engagement between these global companies, our government agencies, and local food industries.

“This collaboration aims to promote business networking and create opportunities in sustainable food practices for food imports and exports markets,” he said, adding that the conference aims to address crucial issues, obstacles, and possibilities facing a sustainable food system.

On a separate note, Abang Johari stated that food waste management is a concern in Sarawak.

“The Ministry for Housing & Local Government has just launched the first-ever Circular Economy Blueprint for Solid Waste in Malaysia (2025-2035) for the adoption of a circular economy by both public and private industries.

“The Circular Economy Blueprint for Solid Waste would also have the potential for foreign investor collaboration and become a form of income generation for Sarawak as we can focus on new market creation in the recycling and solid waste-based industries,” he remarked.

The Premier additionally congratulated the alliance of Kuching North City Commission (DBKU), Malaysian Recycling Alliance, Ethos Connect, and Trienekens on their private-public sector initiative to launch a recycling project for 1,490 households in Demak and Jalan Bako to encourage their participation in the recyclables collection programme, thereby reducing waste that ends up in the limited landfill space.

The event was attended by various dignitaries and officials, including Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak director Datu Dr Adrian Susin Ambud, Agriculture Department Sarawak director Dominic Chunggat, Sustainable Foods International Conference 2024 organising chairperson Sim Ling Ling, and Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) chief executive officer Amelia Roziman. — DayakDaily