By Amanda L
KUCHING, Nov 9: The Sungai Sebiew Precision Farming Park in Bintulu is expected to be completed next year, introducing modern farming facilities and Internet of Things (IoT) technology to Sarawak’s agriculture sector.
Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (M-FICORD) Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the facility near Taman Sebiew would incorporate modern farming systems and an agro-park concept to encourage greater participation by young people in agriculture.
“We will use IoT technology, modern farming systems and the agro-park concept to encourage young people to become more actively involved in the agriculture sector,” he said during the opening ceremony of Batang Kemena Bridge today.
Dr Stephen said the initiative would involve State Government expenditure amounting to tens of millions of ringgit.
He said modernising agriculture was necessary to increase productivity and ensure farmers could produce not only in greater quantities and better quality, but also products with stronger marketability.
He urged farmers to move beyond subsistence farming and treat agriculture as a business and a source of income.
“Do not farm merely for subsistence. We need to improve our knowledge and change our mindset because agriculture is actually a business and a source of income,” he said.
The Kemena incumbent also highlighted the importance of downstream processing and value-added products in addressing seasonal production challenges, which can lead to oversupply and falling prices.
“When produce is harvested at the same time during a particular season, supply becomes excessive and prices fall. Eventually, farmers become discouraged because they face difficulties selling their produce,” he said.
He added that adequate infrastructure, particularly roads and connectivity, was essential to support agricultural development and help farmers bring their produce to market.
The Sungai Sebiew Precision Farming Park began construction in Jul 2025 on a 13-hectare site. It is being developed as a modern agriculture hub incorporating IoT technology.
The project had reached 47 per cent physical progress as of Sept 2026, with completion targeted for the first quarter of 2027. — DayakDaily
