Sarawak: Sarawak is committed to transforming the agricultural sector towards a more modern and competitive direction in efforts to achieve the status of a net food exporter by 2030. Its deputy minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development, Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, highlighted the state's food trade deficit recorded last year. The import values reached RM7.62 billion compared to exports of only RM1.18 billion, resulting in a food trade deficit of RM6.44 billion.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Abdul Rahman emphasized that such figures demonstrate Sarawak's heavy reliance on imported food. He urged the state to become a leading food producer, a message he delivered while officiating the National Farmers' Conference 2025. Representing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Dr Abdul Rahman spoke at the event organized by the Sibu Vegetable Planters Association.
He identified challenges such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, and rising logistics costs as pressures on global and regional food systems. To mitigate these issues, the Sarawak government is implementing initiatives like developing agro and aquaculture parks, establishing the Sarawak Agrotechnology Park (SARTECH) and Precision Farming Park, constructing Collection, Processing and Packaging Centres (CPPC) and agrofood terminals, enhancing irrigation and drainage for rice planting, developing a local seed industry, and enforcing stricter biosecurity controls.
Dr Abdul Rahman called for increased involvement of youth and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in agriculture, emphasizing the sector's modernization through technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT), mechanization, and automation. He stressed that agriculture has evolved from a "3D job" (dirty, dangerous, and difficult) to a professional career capable of generating significant income. He also advocated for stronger strategic collaboration between the government and private sector to expedite agricultural transformation in Sarawak.
He commended the Sibu Vegetable Planters Association for organizing the conference, the first of its kind in Sarawak, which drew over 700 participants from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei Darussalam. Dr Abdul Rahman noted that the conference serves as a crucial platform for experts and agricultural entrepreneurs to exchange knowledge and develop strategies for sustainable and competitive agriculture.