KUCHING: The Sarawak government will focus on the commercial cultivation of coconut, pineapple, banana, durian and jackfruit for export.
Deputy Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development I (Modernisation of Agriculture) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said that the crops have great potential because of the high demand from abroad, including China.
“In the meantime, we will invite large companies to become an anchor to provide guidance in terms of marketing.
“Meanwhile, for farmers, we will identify potential areas throughout the state to encourage them to plant in groups and on a large scale in order to meet demand from outside Sarawak,” he said when by reporters at his Hari Raya Open House held here yesterday (May 14).
Dr Abdul Rahman added that his ministry had implemented various efforts to strengthen agriculture activities in the state as one of the focuses in the State’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy.
“The land in this state is actually fertile, only we cannot meet external demand in terms of quality and quantity.
“Besides that, at the moment, our farmers are planting on a small scale and scattered. So we want to identify an area, for example in the Mukah area, that is suitable for pineapple and coconut and honey lemon.
“As for the interior area, we can plant durians and highlight local products with the involvement of big companies,” he added.
He mentioned that there were companies that have been identified and several agreements have been signed.
“However, we are still looking for qualified and experienced companies, especially from Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.
