Premier: Sarawak’s vast landmass offers huge opportunity for food production

KUCHING (Aug 13): Sarawak’s vast landmass presents a huge opportunity for food cultivation and production, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He pointed out that as Sarawak aims to become a net food exporter by 2030 and to achieve its food security and resilience agenda, the state needs to produce 240,000 metric tonnes of paddy to avoid importing rice and become self-sufficient for local consumption.

As such, he said the Sarawak government is trying to change the perception of its agriculture sector so that food production is highly valued and perceived as an industry for building agro-preneurs.

“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.

“Our communities and business sectors play an important role for our state in achieving Sarawak’s food security goals by 2030. By actively participating in these new initiatives, local communities can help Sarawak become a net food exporter and achieve self- sufficiency in rice production, reducing the need for imports and addressing the state’s food trade deficit,” he said at the Sustainable Foods International Conference 2024 today.

His text of speech was read by Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Deputy Minister Datuk Martin Ben, who represented him at the event, aimed to address crucial issues, obstacles, and possibilities facing a sustainable food system.

Abang Johari also noted the involvement of international entities at this conference, such as the Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia, Sino Carbon Investment Beijing, Hainan Ports, Hainan International Emissions Trading Center, Shantou Tourism Association, and E-Spain Gastronomy Center.

In this regard, he encouraged the engagement between these global companies, government agencies, and local food industries to promote business networking and create opportunities in sustainable food practices for food imports and exports markets.

On another note, Abang Johari said the management of food waste is also an issue of concern for Sarawak.

“Malaysia’s 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.

“(It) would also have the potential for foreign investor collaboration and become an income generation for Sarawak as we can focus on new market creation in the recycling and solid waste-based industries,” he added.

He congratulated the alliance of Kuching North City Commission (DBKU), Malaysian Recycling Alliance, Ethos Connect and Trienekens on their private-public sector initiative to start a recycling project for 1,490 households in Demak and Jalan Bako to promote their participation in recyclables collection programme, hence reducing the waste that goes to the limited landfill space.

Also present at the event were Sarawak Department of Veterinary Services director Datu Dr Adrian Susin Ambud, Sarawak Agriculture Department director Dominic Chunggat and the conference organising chairperson Sim Ling Ling.