KUCHING: The ‘smart farming’ method should be used by young farmers to develop Sarawak’s agriculture sector.
Deputy State Secretary (Performance and Service Delivery Transformation), Datu Dr Sabariah Putit said this would facilitate young farmers especially youths to develop their farms to a higher level.
“Smart farming or Internet System for All (IOT) paves the way for young farmers to highlight their abilities in agriculture and if they use this system, then one day they will be able to become a successful modern farmer,” she told reporters after completing the IOT Demonstration Ceremony in conjunction with the State-level Public Service Innovation Week at Taman Kekal Pengeluaran Makanan (TKPM) Rampangi, Santubong near here, yesterday.
For starters, two IOT system units were installed at TKPM Rampangi to control and monitor agriculture through the fertigation methods.
The IOT system includes sensors to monitor and control inputs of fertilizer, temperature and humidity.
Sabariah added that through the system farmers can monitor and control agricultural activities from anywhere using smartphones through custom-designed applications and this system is very user-friendly and easy to handle.
“This IOT requires the transformation of the minds of all parties including the State Agriculture Department as well as the researchers as a whole.
“This is seen as a holistic endeavour to provide a platform for young farmers who are capable and interested in agriculture to gain and advance themselves as well as the agriculture sector at the state level.
“Obviously, this will enable Sarawak agricultural products to compete with other countries in the global market because we have the potential for this field, provided we have to change our present farming ways,” she said.
Also present were Director of Sarawak Agriculture Department, Dr Alvin Chai Lian Kuet and Deputy Director (Commercialization), Ngab Dollah Salam.
