The strategy adopted by the Sarawak state government in increasing the availability of new agricultural land can be viewed as a fundamental change in its development process, which seeks to develop under-utilized lands into centres of rural economic growth.

Through the adoption of new policies for land management and through the simplification of processes involved in converting such lands to agricultural uses, the government is reducing the entry costs for small farmers and large agricultural firms. The opening up of new lands is not just the expansion of the agricultural frontiers but it involves efforts geared toward integrating the rural areas into the moneymaking world supply chain.

Expanded Infrastructure, powerful catalyst

In fact, such an expansion acts as a powerful catalyst towards the achievement of inclusive economic development through bridging the gap between the cities and the rural areas by providing localized job creation and minimizing rural-urban migration.

Thanks to such accessible productive land, the rural people can make use of “Agrotechnology” that maximizes their crop production and increases food security. Moreover, such efforts ensure economic sustainability as well by providing diversification of sources of income in Sarawak and bringing in private capital in the rural hinterland.

The story of progress has been tied too long to the skyscraper and the city plaza, while the boundless possibilities of rural spaces have remained marginalized. But, times have changed. With our attention shifting from the urban environment to rural settings, we can get an altogether different perspective regarding sustainability, innovation of the locals, and economic vitality in a local context.

Moving to the countryside is not an escape from the rest of the world, but rather an engagement with it. Using the strengths of our small communities, we can create a web that is not just more interconnected but much more rooted in the way that we actually live.

The large green areas of Sarawak have been long lying dormant as a source of wealth, with the interior parts remaining underdeveloped owing to the movement of people from rural to urban areas and lack of skill to make large scale efforts.

Innovative approach

Nevertheless, an innovative approach to strategy has completely changed this story. By focusing on infrastructure improvement, advanced farming techniques, and resource management within the communities, the government of Sarawak was able to overcome the rift between the peripheral region and the core region.

This activation of the hidden territorial potential of the state has turned into a tool for empowering the rural citizens and breaking the vicious cycle of economic marginalization. Through this intelligent utilization of the potential of the enormous territory of Sarawak, the government of Sarawak has managed to bring economic control back into the hands of its rural people.

The field of agricultural farming is going through a revolution, as latent potentials are harnessed in order to make sure that the farmers are included in the process of productive business-oriented agriculture. The reason for such revolution lies in the conscious efforts by the agriculture authorities who want to revolutionize the entire agricultural sector with the help of research and development work.

High-yielding commercial crops

This includes using high yielding varieties of crops for increasing efficiency and profitability in the process. In addition to this, one of the most crucial aspects in this revolution is the aspect of technology used in agriculture. It has become possible for the farmers to control the entire agricultural cycle right from planting to harvesting.

Based on intensive research and fieldwork carried out by the government, there are various agricultural commodities that the state will use to make it a regional leader in commercial agriculture. It has been realized that there was need to move from subsistence level agriculture to more advanced forms, and hence the Sarawak government decided to cultivate those commodities that could benefit from the state's tropical climate and huge tracts of arable land.

The crops include black pepper, an item that has remained a symbol of the state since a very long time, as well as MD2 pineapples, which are famous worldwide for their sweetness and longevity. In addition to the above, Sarawak has also taken up the business of growing high-quality durian fruits including Musang King and Black Thorn to meet the rising demands from other regions including China.

Paradigm shift

In order to harness the true potential of the interior regions of Sarawak, it will be necessary to create a new paradigm in terms of how rural areas are perceived. It is vital to instil a change in perception in young people who currently reside in urban areas, such that instead of viewing their ancestral villages as places where there are no prospects for them, they perceive them as areas where great possibilities lie in wait for them.

The days when rural areas were cut off from the rest of the state have long passed, because thanks to the development of roads in recent years, these areas have become fully connected to the rest of the state. With this change in perception, young people can realize the fact that their rural areas are ready to undergo an economic turnaround.