KUCHING: Over 105,000 farmers across Sarawak are expected to enjoy improved agricultural access following the implementation of over 300 farm road projects valued at approximately RM95 million this year, helping reduce transportation costs and facilitate the marketing of produce.

Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom stated that the projects involve the construction and upgrading of over 1,900 kilometres of farm road networks through various agencies, supported by both the Sarawak Government and the Federal Government.

According to him, enhanced infrastructure not only eases farmers' movement to agricultural sites but also expedites the delivery of produce to markets and minimizes post-harvest loss risks.

“The government will continue to upgrade farm road infrastructure to provide better connectivity for farmers, improve market access efficiency, and lower logistics costs,” he said.

He said this when delivering his ministerial winding-up speech at the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting here on Tuesday.

In a related development, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi noted that the Sarawak Government has also allocated RM93.8 million under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to execute eight agricultural drainage infrastructure projects through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak.

Of that total, RM19 million was received for 2026, with RM4.4 million spent to date.

He added that two projects are currently under construction, while six others are at various stages of implementation.

Furthermore, DID Sarawak has been entrusted with managing RM998.1 million channeled through several regional development agencies to execute 446 infrastructure projects covering farm roads, river and coastal protection, as well as agricultural drainage systems.

These projects are being carried out through the Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency (IRSDA), Sri Aman Development Agency (SADA), Betong Division Development Agency (BDDA), and Rajang Delta Development Agency (RADDA).

The implementation of these various infrastructure initiatives is expected to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen farm resilience against flood risks, and unlock broader opportunities for farmers to commercialise their produce.

These efforts align with the Sarawak Government's commitment to empowering the agrifood sector, elevating farmers' income, and narrowing the development gap between urban and rural areas. — UKASnews

Prepared by: Eisner Nala
Photos: George S. Embie
Translator: Ryan Lim