State eyes RM140 mln coffee import, hopes to become net exporter instead
KUCHING: Sarawak is aiming to be a net exporter of coffee by the year 2030.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said according to record, Sarawak’s net import of coffee products was worth RM140 million.
“As Sarawak targets to be a net food exporter by 2030, we believe by 2025 or 2030, the net import of coffee will be reversed to net export worth RM150 million,” he said during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sarawak Agriculture Department and Earthlings Coffee Workshop Sdn Bhd at Kuching Old Courthouse Auditorium, yesterday.
Uggah, who is also Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister, said for instance Sarawak home-grown Liberica coffee is a potential cash crop which can be further developed.
He said that was why the government appointed anchor companies such as Earthlings Coffee Workshop Sdn Bhd under the Public-Private Sector Partnership (PPP) development and business model to assist farmers in coffee plantation and coffee industry in Sarawak.
“There are 200 hectares of coffee planted under the Highland Development Area (HAD). So, this is a good start and I believe the coffee industry will have a good future for Sarawak.
“This is the government’s vision to transform the rural areas. The objective is to eradicate poverty so we can help farmers become middle and high income earners,” he stressed.
He said the reason Sarawak’s modern agriculture was still lagging behind was subsistence agriculture.
“This is the issue we have to change. We want more farmers to produce crops that have the quality demanded by the global market,” he said.
He further said the government has already appointed anchor companies to develop the durian and banana industry.
“And Sarawak is making history already by exporting 100 tonnes of durian paste to China,” he said.
He added there are a million hectares of NCR land in Sarawak which still need to be planted with other commodities such as coffee, bananas and pineapples.
“Beside pushing for rural development, we are also conserving the environment. That is why Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has decided not to issue anymore provisional lease for palm oil plantation. He has decided not to extend the oil palm industry over two million hectares,” he said.
Yesterday, Agriculture acting director Dr Alvin Chai signed the MoU on behalf of the government while Dr Kenny Lee signed for Earthlings Coffee Workshop with Uggah as witness.
