Sarawak Premier entrusted UPM to conduct research to increase the production of Biris rice with the construction of a field laboratory in Gedong.

 

“This is a new technology and we have identified a field laboratory area of approximately 30 acres in Lubuk Punggur in collaboration with the landowner."

“It will be a laboratory for the agricultural university (Putra) to use the technology of doing research on rice biris,”

 

Ujar YAB Premier Sarawak during a working visit and presentation of strategic projects in Gedong district on 21 January 2023.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2023 - GEDONG: Infrastructure development in Gedong will provide facilities to develop the gardens as a modern agricultural area using the 'smart agriculture' which is 'smart farming' which produces rice.

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said, this has been implemented by Universiti Putra Malaysia and so far, they have received good cooperation from the farmers. 

“What is necessary is that we will change a little bit from the point of view of using technological methods in producing rice in Lubuk Punggur which is rice biris. 

“I have instructed the University Putra Malaysia to double the production of rice within 18 months and three times the harvest. 

“It means that it will increase the yield of the rice and the rice we must add value from the downstream point of view of rice,” he said. 

He said this in a press conference in conjunction with the Sarawak Premier Working Visit Program to Gedong District at the Project Site at Jalan Lubok Teranggas to Kampung Gedong and the Mini Isthmus Gedong Project Site on Saturday. 

He further explained that Sarawak can produce rice flour which can be used to make biscuits. 

“This is a new technology and we have identified a field laboratory area of approximately 30 acres in Lubuk Punggur in collaboration with the landowners. 

“It will be a laboratory for agricultural universities to use the technology of doing research on rice biris,” he said. 

He added that Sarawak has paddy plantations and will be a smart agriculture using technology.

“This is a focus on technology because we want to improve rice as a safety course.

“I see that in all of Malaysia other than Kedah most other places there are few, so we can be a relatively large rice producer in Malaysia, but we should use new technology and not use the old ways,” he said. 

When asked by the media whether paddy is under the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) or Padiberas Nasional Bhd (BERNAS), the Sarawak Premier insisted that the paddy belongs to Sarawak. 

“Not RISDA is not thoughtful. This is our own study, and this study is a study of the Sarawak government with the University Putra Malaysia. 

“We have professors who have special research for us, and rice is nowhere else, we can only produce rice and another brand of rice which is bario rice,” he said. 

Also present were Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Ir Aidel Lariwoo, Sarawak State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Batang Sadong Member of Parliament Rodiyah Sapiee, Special Representative to Gedong State Assemblyman Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais and other honorary difs.