KUCHING: Sarawak food exports to China and Singapore is expected to increase next year with more demand from buyers in both countries.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, said this year Sarawak exported 300 tons of durian paste to China compared to only 100 tons last year.
Uggah said Sarawak durian paste has successfully penetrated into China’s market following the appointment of two anchor companies to export the product to the country.
Besides durian paste, a local company Banana Tree Sdn Bhd has on Friday exported 700 boxes of the local ‘banaBee’ banana chips to Ghuangzhou, China, the second shipment since last year.
Uggah said China is a big potential market for Sarawak food products, but reminded that their food market is very stringent.
“Their food standard is very high, so they will inspect your processing facilities and products before you can send your products there,” said Uggah when officiating at a Young Agropreneurs Weekend 2019 organised by Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association here yesterday.
He said Singapore has also increased its import of live pigs from Sarawak adding that soon about 2,000 live pigs will be exported to the city state daily.
“Singapore has also asked if Sarawak can export 3,000 goats a year to the country.”
On Sarawak’s goal to become a net exporter of food products by 2030, Uggah said the state agriculture transformation programme is on track and urged Sarawakians to be ready to adapt.
He added that his ministry was promoting fertigation system with a trail pilot project at Rampangi Permanent Food Producing Park.
“Soon, farmers will no more use traditional farming tools like cangkul and parang. The industry is becoming very advanced, one can even his or her handphone to monitor the development of their crops.”
He urged young people to participate in modern farming, saying, “Modern farming is the way to go.
“Next year the directive from the chief minister is to intensify the fertigation system as well as hydroponic system,” he said, adding that both systems are very productive and there are a lot of modern technology which can be used.
Uggah, who is also Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister said the state government is helping the farmers by providing subsidy to assist them to venture for modern farming. The state government will also set up a venture capital to provide financing for agropreneurs.
