Former Engineer Introduces Smart Farming To Rural Areas In Sarawak

In Long Busang, a remote village located in Kapit Division, Sarawak, technology of any kind remains largely unfamiliar.

So, imagine civil engineer-turned-agropreneur Cooplay Nyipa Aji’s surprise when the villagers responded enthusiastically to his talk on smart farming, despite it being such a new concept to them.

There he was, deep in a settlement located 400 kilometres from Sibu and with a population of 1,400 – mostly from the Kenyah Badeng ethnic group. His allotted time had ended, but seeing the community’s keen interest, he continued speaking, doing his best to answer as many questions as possible.

“It's already lunchtime. Should I continue?” Cooplay asked, and almost in unison, the villagers responded, “Continue!”

Later, he told Bernama, “I know agriculture is very close to the hearts of the people here as it has been practised for generations, but I’m impressed by their willingness to learn new farming technologies.”

Cooplay, 58, was one of the speakers at the ‘Digital to Long Busang’ programme on July 10, organised by the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA). The programme was aimed at empowering communities with digital knowledge and skills and encouraging community participation in the digital economy.

INTRODUCTION TO SMART FARMING

As a pioneer in smart farming in Sarawak, Cooplay, who was born and raised in Saratok near Betong, is committed to sharing his knowledge on modern farming techniques with rural communities.

While this civil engineering graduate worked with the oil and gas and construction sectors after receiving his degree from Universiti Malaya in 1994, his true passion remained in agriculture, a field deeply rooted in his family for generations.

Each greenhouse with 1,500 plants can produce up to 1.2 metric tons of yield.

His involvement in agriculture only began in 2017, when he was selected by the Sarawak Agriculture Department as a pioneer participant in the Permanent Park for Food Production (TKPM) project in Rampangi, Kuching, to kickstart a smart farming initiative.

It was during his training at TKPM that he was introduced to new approaches in agricultural practices, including the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology and smart fertigation system. TKPM’s focus was on cultivating chillies, ginger and golden melons.

LUCRATIVE INCOME

Cooplay is currently applying the technologies he learned on a 21.3 by 30.5 metre plot allocated to him within a plant house at TKPM, where he cultivates chillies and golden melons.

He explained that the smart fertigation system he utilises involves the use of rain shelters and fertiliser solutions based on specific formulas, as well as the integration of humidity and temperature controls with IoT technology.

A total of 1,000 chili plants grown in a rain shelter system can produce approximately two metric tons of yield, with a market price of RM10 to RM12 per kilogram.

He also said he does not have to be present at TKPM full-time to oversee his cultivations as the plant house temperature, fertiliser usage, planting resources and other aspects are monitored through an information control centre at the park.

“I can access the data from this control centre via my personal computer or smartphone,” he said.

Noting that the Sarawak government has allocated significant funding for this infrastructure, he said smart farming is a genuine economic opportunity for rural youth. Through the use of rain shelter systems and controlled technologies, young farmers can earn far more than the starting salaries of most conventional jobs, he pointed out.

“For a young person with a conventional job, it’s hard to earn RM6,000 a month. But with smart farming, they can earn much higher,” he said.  

Citing an example, Cooplay said 1,000 chilli plants grown using smart farming techniques can produce about two tonnes of chillies, which can be sold at market prices of RM10 to RM12 per kilogramme.

“From this, farmers can earn more than RM20,000 in a single season (about three months), provided that pest and disease control is properly managed,” he said.

IMPROVE LIVELIHOOD

As for golden melons, a single plant house with around 1,500 plants can yield up to 1.2 tonnes of fruit. At its market price of around RM15 per kg, one can generate a gross income of up to RM18,000 within the three-month harvest period.

“In the case of ginger, one plant house can produce up to 9,000 kg, and if sold at RM10 per kg, it can generate a gross return of up to RM90,000 a year,” he added.

Having successfully utilised modern agricultural techniques such as fertigation and IoT-based monitoring systems, Cooplay wants rural communities to turn to smart farming in order to improve their livelihoods.

“I am willing to teach anyone interested, with the hope that more young farmers will see agriculture as a profitable career.

“The principle I hold is that the advancement of agriculture doesn’t rely on technology alone – it also depends on our genuine willingness to share knowledge with others. I was trained for free by the government, so I hold firmly to the belief that this knowledge should also be shared free of charge,” he added.