BINTANGOR (Jan 16): Sarawak can become a net exporter of rice like India and Vietnam as the state has the resources, said Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.上海花千坊
The Premier pointed out that this is possible with the new technology available now.
He said Sarawak is currently producing just 30 per cent of the 240,000 tonnes of rice it requires, while 70 per cent is imported.
“If can produce (more rice), we need not source for imported rice. We can produce sufficient rice for the whole of Sarawak. And if we involve more smallholders, like the villagers, we can produce more than 240,000 tonnes of rice. If we produce more than needed, we can export.
“Currently, we are importing rice from Vietnam because Thailand cannot meet the demand. We also import rice from India爱上海同城对对碰. However, with our policies and stable government coupled with people working hard, we could become India — we can become exporters of rice.
“We (could) replace Vietnam, exporting rice. We have the land, we have the resources上海419论坛. What we are lacking is technology上海龙凤419. But today, technology is available to us,” he said when launching Onemas’ Paddy Processing Mill in Sungai Padi, Bintangor, near here today.
He noted due to climate change, Vietnam is also facing flooding.
“If the land is flooded, it can’t produce rice. Same thing is happening in India as the weather now becomes unpredictable due to climate change.
“That’s why, if other countries can’t export rice, we’ll have sufficient rice for our consumption. We don’t have to depend on others.
“And if we have more rice, we help others – we export (our rice)爱上海419论坛. We also sell to outside Sarawak including Peninsula now with less rice (production) following the floods (there).”
That said, Abang Johari felt that the time has gone to use machinery in line with the digital area.
“We can also make use of our children with engineering and agriculture backgrounds. Meaning, we have to make good of our children who are smart to change the way we plant paddy, not using the traditional method.
Abang Johari emphasised the importance of adopting modern technology and involving the younger generation with expertise in engineering and agriculture, stating that Sarawak farmers should embrace modern machinery and digital tools.上海新茶工作室联系方式
He noted that young people, equipped with modern knowledge, could transform farming into a high-tech industry and become entrepreneurs in the food sector.
Abang Johari also outlined plans to develop other suitable paddy cultivation areas, particularly in the Rajang Basin and other regions such as Tanjung Manis, Julau, and Meluan.
Earlier, he witnessed the exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Onesmas Agriculture and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).
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