By Shikin Louis
ASAJAYA, July 19: Kampung Rebak’s corn industry has grown from roadside sales to a point where buyers now come directly to collect harvested produce, signalling greater potential for the crop to become a stronger rural economic driver.
Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the growing interest in corn cultivation among villagers showed that the industry was providing good returns, with more residents taking up planting due to its promising market demand.
“When the corn is harvested, there are buyers who come. They do not need to wait to sell by the roadside.
“This shows that the corn industry is quite lucrative, especially in helping the economy of the local community,” he said when speaking to reporters after officiating the inaugural Kampung Rebak Corn Festival 2026 here today.
Abdul Karim, who is also the Asajaya assemblyman, further said Kampung Rebak was chosen to host the festival as the village has a large number of residents involved in corn cultivation, adding that the local produce was among the best he had tasted.
He hoped the festival, organised by Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) together with Kampung Rebak’s Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK), could become an annual event to attract more people with idle land to venture into corn farming.
He said corn cultivation offered good potential as the crop could be planted several times a year, depending on farming practices.
“There are those who can have two cycles a year, some three cycles, and some four cycles. The potential is very good for those involved in this industry,” he said.
Beyond increasing corn production, Abdul Karim said the crop could also support the development of another agricultural sector in Sarawak, namely cattle farming.
He said different parts of the corn plant could be utilised, including its leaves as animal feed, creating opportunities for farmers to venture into integrated crop and livestock activities.
“Just like coconut, where the water can be used, the flesh can be used and the husk can also be used. Corn is the same.
“The big corn can be eaten, smaller corn can be made into vegetables, and the leaves can be used as animal feed, especially for cattle,” he said.
Abdul Karim said this could help support Sarawak’s beef industry, which continues to face challenges, noting that fresh beef prices in Sarawak are among the highest in the Nusantara region.
He said the Agriculture Department should look into the potential of linking corn cultivation with livestock farming by providing guidance to farmers on raising cattle, goats and other livestock.
“This can create a spin-off industry. If developed properly and people are taught how to rear cattle, goats and so on, the industry can grow in Samarahan and Asajaya,” he said.
He also acknowledged that Kampung Sampun had earlier pioneered corn cultivation in Asajaya before Kampung Rebak saw a rapid increase in the number of corn growers in recent years.
Abdul Karim said the sudden growth of corn farming in Kampung Rebak indicated that farmers were seeing good returns from the industry.
Earlier, Abdul Karim officiated the inaugural Kampung Rebak Corn Festival 2026, which featured various corn-themed activities including cooking competitions, creative corn arrangement contests, colouring competitions, corn-eating contests and the Corn Picking activity.
The Corn Picking activity was among the main attractions, allowing visitors to harvest fresh corn directly from the farm at a special subsidised price of RM1 per cob, while exhibitions by the Agriculture Department and FAMA showcased agricultural products, technologies and information related to the industry.
Also present was MPKS chairman Abang Ismawi Abang Ali. — DayakDaily
