By Christine T
KUCHING: The Sarawak Agricultural Institute is set to increase its student intake from 200 to 400 by 2028 through a RM6 million hostel expansion project under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), aimed at addressing accommodation shortages that currently limit its intake.
Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said the institute has the capacity to accommodate 400 students but can currently accept only 200 due to insufficient hostel facilities.
“The project is expected to begin in 2027, and we hope to complete it within a year, by 2028,” he said after the 21st Agricultural Institute of Sarawak Convocation Ceremony 2026 at Imperial Hotel Kuching today.
He said the expansion would allow more students to pursue agricultural studies at the institute while supporting its contribution towards Sarawak’s agricultural development aspirations under Vision 2030.
The convocation today marked the institute’s 40th anniversary, celebrating four decades of contribution to developing human capital for Sarawak’s agricultural sector, with 90 graduates receiving recognition for completing their respective studies.
The evolving demands of the agricultural sector that graduates must be equipped not only with practical agricultural skills but also with the ability to manage enterprises, adopt technology, understand markets, and create economic value from agricultural resources.
Sarawak’s agricultural potential across crop production, livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture must be supported by knowledge, technology, and efficient management to strengthen productivity, competitiveness and food security. — DayakDaily
