By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Aug 23: Sarawak is poised to overtake Kedah as Malaysia’s rice bowl by 2030, with bold agricultural transformation strategies that could one day propel the State into becoming a rice exporter on par with Vietnam and Thailand, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Speaking when officiating Sarawak Agrofest 2025 at Bintulu Old Airport today, Abang Johari said even the federal government had acknowledged Sarawak’s meteoric rise in rice production.
“Two days ago in Parliament, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Food Datuk Arthur (Joseph Kurup) mentioned that Sarawak will soon overtake Kedah as Malaysia’s rice bowl by 2030. He wouldn’t say this without statistics,” he stressed in his speech broadcasted live via Ukas Channel.
Abang Johari emphasised that with determination, Sarawak could transform its food industry into a global powerhouse.
“Farmers, fishermen, and all in the food industry, this is no dream. With hard work, Sarawak can transform like Denmark, Sweden, or Finland. Denmark has Nestlé, why not Sarawak with its own global food brand?” he said.
He said Sarawak’s transformation hinges on embracing technology, digitalisation, and artificial intelligence (AI) to maximise land productivity and boost yields.
He highlighted the establishment of the Sarawak Artificial Intelligence Centre (SAIC), which provides data-driven solutions for soil analysis and fertiliser application.
Citing a successful example in Kuala Rajang, he said 800 hectares of idle land that lay barren for five decades had been revived into productive paddy fields.
“One hectare produced four tonnes of rice. Why import rice when we have land and technology?” he said.
To further boost rice cultivation, Abang Johari revealed the state has invested RM1 billion in irrigation systems. He also shared innovative irrigation concepts inspired by the energy sector, including pumped hydro systems that can simultaneously irrigate paddy fields and generate electricity.
On mechanisation, Abang Johari said technology had revolutionised the sector. “Today, one hectare can be ploughed in 50 minutes. Harvesting that once took three months is now completed quickly with Kubota machines. In Gedong, yields have reached eight metric tonnes per hectare, up from just 1.2 tonnes before, an eightfold increase,” he said.
He emphasised that increasing yields directly raised farmers’ incomes, while partnerships with private sector players created steady rental and profit-sharing models. This, he said, was part of a circular economy approach that keeps costs low, profits high, and communities thriving.
Abang Johari also stressed the importance of knowledge and education in sustaining the sector’s growth, pointing to Sarawak’s plan to provide free university education by 2026.
“I don’t just promise, I deliver. Sarawak’s revenue has grown from RM6 billion to RM14 billion, and we return this to the people to build a knowledge society,” he said.
He added that Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) clear policies, stable governance, and innovative direction would ensure Sarawak continues to uplift its people while transforming the food industry into an economic engine.
“We have the strength, we have the stability, and we must change our mindset. With new ideas and innovation, we can strengthen our economy and uplift our people. This is my hope for the future of Sarawak,” he said.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom and Malaysia Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato Sri Tiong King Sing were among the distinguished guests present. — DayakDaily
