SARAWAK has set aside 2 million hectares for the development of food crops, said Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah Embas today.

He said the 2 million hectares were mainly within the plans of the State Regional Development Area and were led by and divided into seven main regional agencies: Upper Rajang Development Agency, Highland Development Agency, Northern Region Development Agency, Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency, Sadok Agropolitan, Food Basket Area and Pig Farming Area.

“Sarawak is strengthening the agriculture supply chain by using modern and precision farming to increase production, setting up more collection, processing and packaging centres, strengthening agriculture R&D, providing venture capital for agropreneurs and strengthening the farmers’ organisation,” he said during his keynote address at the Sarawak International Business and Economic Summit in Kuching, today.

Uggah added, in the long term, Sarawak is determined to be a net food exporter by 2030.

“We welcome anyone from the private sector to participate in our agriculture transformation programmes,” he said.

Last year, Sarawak’s export of food produce had grown to RM1 billion, compared to RM700 million in 2010. – Bernama, September 30, 2019.