KUCHING: The Sarawak Skills Development Centre (PPKS) campus in Mukah is due for completion this August and is expected to be operational by 2020.
The campus which can accommodate 700 students will introduce courses such as plantation, electrical, computer systems, fashion and design. The main course is Smart Agriculture.
Smart Agriculture covers fertigation, hydroponic and aquaponics using technology.
It also teaches packaging, nutrients, downstream products and marketing.
In a press conference yesterday, PPKS executive director Hallman Sabri said the campus would highlight the Smart Agriculture course.
“PPKS is offering the courses to encouraged youths to be more involved in agricultural industries in Sarawak.
“The courses will implement the use of Internet of Things, data analytic and marketing,” he said.
Sabri also said that SMART Agriculture will help in production in Sarawak.
“The course at PPKS is in line with the digital economy and the Industrial 4.0 Revolution initiative,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the SMART Agriculture course is relevant in Mukah as the majority of people in the division are involved in agriculture.
“Our millennials aren’t interested in conventional farming, but with the SMART Agriculture concept they might be interested,” she said.
Fatimah also emphasised marketing as industries in Sarawak lack this major skill set.
“The introduction of SMART Agriculture could enhance the industry. Agricultural produce also can be made into downstream products and more,” she said.
“By the time our infrastructure for digital economy are all in place, in terms of internet coverage and so on, Sarawak could excel in the Industrial 4.0 Revolution.”
Currently, the PPKS Campus in Mukah is renting a shophouse which can accommodate 100 students.
