BELAGA: Agricultural development in Sungai Asap will be strengthened through a technology-based approach and a complete supply chain to boost productivity, value addition and income for local communities.

Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the use of technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT), greenhouses and smart farming concepts is important to optimise the limited land available in the area.

He said the modern agricultural approach also has the potential to attract more young people into the sector.

"This new way involves using new technology, IoT, greenhouses and so on.

"The use of this new technology is needed so that young people are more interested in farming," he said.

He was speaking at the Launching and Handover Ceremony of the Sungai Asap Agricultural Station Project here on Saturday.

Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi said agricultural development in Sungai Asap should not stop at the production stage, but must cover the entire chain, beginning with research and development (R&D), training, production and processing through to marketing.

He said a clustered approach could also enable the community to produce agricultural goods with a distinct identity, with the potential to become a signature product of Sungai Asap.

"Sungai Asap has a population of around 25,000, so this is the place where we can do something in clusters so that we can produce a signature product synonymous with Sungai Asap," he said.

He also voiced support for a proposal by Murum Assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon for the Sungai Asap Agricultural Station to be expanded with an Agriculture Transformation Centre (ATC) based on a Smart Farming Centre concept, as well as a Collection, Processing and Packaging Centre (CPPC) or Food Terminal.

He said processing facilities and downstream industries should be considered to enable local agricultural produce to be processed and given added value before being marketed.

Meanwhile, Kennedy said the Sungai Asap Agricultural Station marks the starting point for the development of a more comprehensive agricultural ecosystem in the area.

He said three priorities need attention: development of the ATC or Smart Farming Centre, the CPPC or Food Terminal, and the expansion and upgrading of agricultural roads.

"The Sungai Asap Agricultural Station is the beginning. After this, we want to move from connectivity to technology, from technology to productivity, from productivity to market access, and finally to higher incomes for the people," he said.

He said the approach could boost agricultural output, produce more agropreneurs, open up job opportunities and strengthen income sources for local communities.

Also present were Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Sarawak (M-FICORD) Datu Sirai Daha, Sarawak Agriculture Department Director Dominic Chunggat, Kapit Division Resident Elvis Didit, Belaga District Officer Bidah Lujah, Political Secretary to the Sarawak Premier Thomas Balan Bang and Kapit Division JKR District Engineer Jaw Gara. -UKASnews