Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. Photo: Khalil Bolhen (TVS)

KUCHING, Jan 17: The Sarawak government allocated RM3 million to Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to conduct research to increase rice production in Sarawak by threefold by 2024.

If the research is successful, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the same place will be implemented for the cultivation of other plants..

“We have a very high-quality rice which is Bario rice, and we want to brand it for both domestic and international markets. Right now, we are very dependent on rice from Thailand, if something happens there that involves rice production, our rice supply will be affected

“So, this research is very important, and Sarawak is now in the process of increasing the production of this commodity using modern technology,” he said when speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the Sarawak-Dutch Food Safety Workshop at the Pullman hotel today.

The workshop became a platform for the participants consisting of farmers to learn and implement the use of modern technology from the Netherlands into their agriculture.

At the same time, Abang Johari also identified three weaknesses of the agricultural sector in Sarawak including the use of environmentally friendly modern technology in the agriculture sector, land, and crop management as well as seed production as well as nursery management.

“If we can overcome these three problems, Sarawak can be one of the key players to overcome the food safety problem in the region.

“I hope this workshop will be a platform to come up with a new approach to our food industry," he added.

In addition, Abang Johari said, Sarawak has many talented individuals who can be trained to produce high-quality food for a population of over three billion that can be exported through flights that take only six hours.

Credit to - TVS

Date of Input: 18/01/2023 | Updated: 19/01/2023 | lanz