By Antonia Chiam
“To promote and modernise the agriculture sector, three components remain crucial: technology, infrastructure and market access. Sarawak government wants to elevate the standard of our farmers to agripreneurs.” Abang Johari (July 12, 2024)
AGRICULTURE has traditionally been a cornerstone of Sarawak’s economy, with commodities like oil palm, rubber, and pepper playing significant roles in its economic output. In recent years, the Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has taken a bold and visionary approach to revitalise and modernise this vital sector. His forward-thinking initiative to digitalise Sarawak’s agriculture marks a new era for the State, one that focuses on transforming a traditional, labour-intensive agriculture industry into a high-tech, sustainable, and globally competitive sector.
The core vision behind the digitalisation of Sarawak’s agriculture sector is to harness the power of digital technologies and data to elevate productivity, efficiency, and yield. By integrating advanced digital solutions into farming, the State hopes to unlock new potentials, drive innovation, and ensure that agriculture continues to be a robust contributor to its economic prosperity.
Abang Johari’s drive for digital transformation is aligned with his broader goal of positioning Sarawak as a leader in the digital economy, and his plans for the agricultural sector are a critical part of this vision. By embracing technology and innovation, the Premier seeks to enhance productivity, increase market access, and improve the livelihoods of farmers while also contributing to environmental sustainability.
Benefits of Agricultural Digitalisation
Sarawak is poised to transform its agricultural sector through the integration of cutting-edge technologies and modern farming techniques, aiming to boost productivity, ensure food security, and promote sustainable practices. The digitalisation of agriculture in Sarawak is set to offer numerous advantages for the State’s farmers, entrepreneurs, and corporate entities. These benefits include:
- Higher Yield and Improved Productivity: By incorporating smart farming technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and data analytics, farmers will be able to monitor and optimise their practises in real-time. This will result in higher crop yields, improved production efficiency, and better overall productivity across the sector.
- Access to Overseas Markets: One of the most significant advantages of digitalising the agricultural sector is the ability to improve market access. Through digital platforms, Sarawak’s agricultural produce will be able to reach international markets more easily, connecting local producers with global demand. This will benefit not only large corporate entities but also smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs, who previously faced challenges in marketing their produce.
- Stronger Linkages Between Producers and Exporters: Digitalisation will foster stronger connections between local producers and exporters, facilitating a more reliable and consistent supply chain. With the help of digital tools, stakeholders can share information more efficiently, ensuring timely deliveries and better quality control, ultimately improving the reputation of Sarawak’s agricultural exports.
Adoption of ICT in Farming
To achieve these objectives, the Sarawak government has outlined a comprehensive strategy involving several key actions. These actions are designed to leverage the latest digital technologies while also improving infrastructure and market access for agricultural products.
The first critical step in transforming Sarawak’s agricultural sector is the widespread adoption of information and communications technology (ICT) and digital technologies. These innovations will drive productivity, enhance efficiency, and foster innovation across the industry. By integrating technologies such as IoT, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics, Sarawak’s agricultural practices will become more precise, data-driven, and sustainable. A key focus of the digitalisation effort is the development of efficient distribution systems for agricultural inputs and produce. This includes the use of digital platforms to streamline supply chains, reduce waste, and ensure that agricultural goods reach both local and international markets in the most efficient manner possible. These improvements are expected to result in lower costs, faster delivery times, and a more responsive agricultural sector.
To ensure the success of these digitalisation efforts, the Sarawak government is focused on developing new markets for the State’s agricultural produce while also expanding existing ones. By adopting e-commerce platforms, improving logistics, and enhancing product traceability, Sarawak’s agriculture sector will be able to connect with a broader consumer base, both domestically and globally.
Existing Projects
Under Abang Johari’s leadership, the Sarawak government has launched several significant projects aimed at digitalising the agricultural sector. These initiatives have already started to yield positive results, proving that the vision of a tech-savvy, modern agricultural industry is within reach.
Thirteen projects have been implemented in various parts of Sarawak, including IoT-enabled smart farming initiatives, a GPS-based fleet management system, and IoT-driven fieldwork monitoring. Notably, these projects have been rolled out at key locations such as the Rampangi Agricultural Complex (TKPM Rampangi), the Agriculture Research Centre (ARC) Semongok, the Agricultural Institute (IPS), the Northern Region Agriculture Research Centre (NRARC) Kabuloh, and the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) Oya.
One of the flagship projects is the integration of smart farming techniques at the TKPM Rampangi Greenhouses, where the use of IoT-enabled sensors and data-driven approaches has transformed farming operations. The complex comprises of 40 greenhouses managed by 14 farmers, each equipped with real-time data systems to optimise irrigation, fertilisation, and pest control. The result has been impressive: increased productivity by 20 per cent, improved crop yields, and significantly higher revenue for the farmers involved.
In addition, the Agriculture Institute (AI) and ARC Semengok have successfully implemented IoT technologies to enhance farming practices, including precision agriculture methods and fieldwork monitoring. These advancements have contributed to better crop management, reduced waste, and improved quality control. The use of drones has also become a game-changer for farmers in Sarawak. With funding from the Sarawak government, several programmes have been implemented to train farmers in using drones for tasks such as crop monitoring, precision spraying, and yield mapping.
Smart feeders and smart paddle wheels in shrimp farming has also been successfully implemented by a private company at their shrimp farms at Luba Stoh, Santubong, Telaga Air, and Sambir since 2019 where results showed better quality and higher production by more than 50 per cent compared to conventional methods. The same system has currently being piloted for 20 tilapia farmers at Batang Ai. Meanwhile, the Sarawak government is taking urgent steps to enhance and improve food security and food supply exports provided by domestic agriculture through establishing agroparks and adopting modern farming technology. The Agroparks will be divided into plots for entrepreneurs to lease so that they may have land to develop. They would not be giving land titles but they may lease the land for 20 to 25 years, for which they can use to apply and get a bank loan for capital.
The government had identified agroparks to be built in Sarikei, Bintulu and Kota Samarahan. This is to enable farmers and agropreneurs to have access to land to develop agriculture following an allocation of RM700 million for agriculture development and RM200 million for seed capital in 2020. The digitalisation of agriculture in Sarawak is set to offer numerous advantages for the State’s farmers, entrepreneurs, and corporate entities.
A Brighter Agri-Future
As Sarawak continues to invest in digitalisation, the future of agriculture in the State looks increasingly bright. The potential for growth in areas such as precision farming, e-commerce, and agritech innovations is immense.
By embracing digital technologies, Sarawak is not only improving the livelihoods of its farmers but also preparing for a more sustainable and prosperous future in agriculture.
The content featured here is an excerpt from the book “Rise of Sarawak: Abang Johari’s Era of Transformation”, published by Sage Salute Sdn Bhd.
