Sarawak focuses on smart farming to harness digital technology

KUCHING, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- Sarawak is focusing on smart farming to harness the power of digital technology for real-time decisions in transforming the state's agriculture industry into a modern, competitive and sustainable sector.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said this was important to ensure Sarawak could become the preferred destination for investors and venture capitalists.

"The government is committed to equipping our industry players with the latest technology and practices in order to sustain the state agriculture industry whilst creating a new competitive edge over our close competitors among our neighbouring countries," he said.

Uggah, who is also the State Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, said this when officiating at the International Conference on Agriculture and Agro-based Industry of Sarawak (ICAAS) 2018 in conjunction with the inaugural Sarawak Agrofest here today.

He said his ministry, jointly with its agencies, is mandated to spearhead the development of agriculture through commercial-based farming on native land.

Apart from closing the income gap between the rural and urban populace, he said, the goal is to make Sarawak as the net exporter of food by 2030.

Later, Uggah also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA) and Agrobank to cooperate and provide easier financing for investors and farmers in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Commenting on the MoU, he expressed confidence that the proposed Agrobank financing programme will benefit developing local agropreneurs to participate in commercial agriculture activities in Sarawak. 

-- BERNAMA