By Churchill Edward onSarawak
Dr Rundi said Sarawak needs to have own authority in order to exploit the richness of the state’s resources along its almost 1,000km shoreline.
KUCHING (April 14): The State Attorney General’s Chambers is finalising an Ordinance to enable the creation of Sarawak’s own Fisheries Department to improve food security, said Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
The Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister said the Ordinance will be tabled within this year; either during the May or November State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting.
“The fact is that we need to improve on our food security, so there are a few things that we need to do. One of the things that we are planning is our new fisheries department,” he told reporters after a ceremony to launch the new Sarawak Land Development Board (SLDB) office and to unveil the SLBD corporate logo at the DCCI Tower here today.
“We need to have our own authority in order to exploit the richness of our resources located along the almost 1,000km shore of Sarawak. So, our job now is to make sure that we are able to take advantage of our natural resources and exploit them further to contribute to the increase of revenue in Sarawak.”
According to him, the state cannot rely on the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) to do everything, adding that Sarawak has its own ways of managing resources.
“We can only table it once we have gone through all the details. The presentation cannot be half-cooked in the DUN or else it will be shot down,” he said.
He pointed out Sabah already has its own state fisheries department, which will be used as an example for Sarawak.
“We have to go into the details, the legal part of it, particularly matters involving the federal government. No doubt now we are given empowerment by the federal government on issuing licences and so on.
“This also has got to do with other things, especially our continental shelf and MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963). All of these must be resolved. So, once that’s done, we move forward,” he said.
Separately, Dr Rundi said the ministry is considering having mills for all high value crops and industries.
“When we look at the supply chain, always our farmers in Sarawak, in particular, stop halfway. We are only able to produce. Then we stop there. We don’t go into downstream processing and so then we have problems in the market,” he explained.
“The situation should have been like when you plant pineapple, there would be processing mill or factory ready. You plant coconut, there’s a factory ready. If you plant something like a seasonal fruit, especially rambutans, there’s no factory.
“By the time the season is at the peak, you can only see miserable returns. From RM100 becomes even 50 sen per kilo. So, these are the things that we must look into, especially in our ministry,” he explained, adding he came up with the idea based on the business-driven oil palm industry.
On the self-sufficiency level for livestock, he said it is very low at 13 per cent.
Therefore, the state has to increase livestock production by 2030 to at least 25 per cent to improve food security, he said.
He pointed out that high value crops can only be maximised through modern technology.
“That’s why we have agro park, greenhouses, and so on in the plan. We already have a few, but we are yet to really intensify operations and so on. So with that, later on, agriculture will become modern, fully commercialised in Sarawak.
“We have seen this done in other countries, which are more advanced than Malaysia. As it can be done, we will adopt new technology. The only way for us to improve our agricultural sector into modern farming is by adopting new technology and new ways of doing things. No more subsistence farming. We have to change our mindset,” he stressed.
He said land size is not an issue with Internet of Things and smart farming being adopted in agriculture to turn the sector into a profitable and sustainable business.
“With new technology and all the gadgets, I’m very sure they will be more attracted to farming. So, we don’t have to go into a big size of land. These days in other countries as well, their land size is not an issue. It shouldn’t be the issue that stops us from doing farming,” he said.
Dr Rundi added Sarawak needs more young and energetic youth in agriculture because they are more knowledgeable and trainable.
Among those present at the event were Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development) Datuk Martin Ben; SLDB manager Prof Dr Harry Entebang; and Advisor in the Sarawak Premier’s Office (Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development) Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom.
Dr Stephen Rundi Utom Sarawak Fisheries Department
