The main thrust for the agriculture sector under the Eight Malaysia Plan (8MP) is to accelerate and facilitate its transformation from one that is primarily traditional smallholders to one that is modern, dynamic and competitive.

Two key strategies towards this end include the promotion of parallel development of the smallholders & corporate private sector in food production and the exploitation of opportunities of synergy between these two.

Good export product... local tropical fruits are popular among consumers

To facilitate and support the private sector’s involvement in agriculture, the government will provide technical support, information and knowledge as well as technological inputs to ensure the success and profitability of agricultural projects especially those involving the four areas identified:

• large-scale plantation of rice

• large-scale plantation of fruits

• large-scale aqua culture

projects and

• large scale livestock projects

Staple food crop

Efforts in this area will increase our self sufficiency level in rice from the current 35% to about 70% by 2010. This entails the cultivation of paddy on a larger scale combining small plots into mini-estates. This will facilitate the development of its physical infrastructures for optimum production. The government can provide the necessary technical support and expertise.

Sago

Sago is a future cash crop. The Department of Agriculture has developed several sago mini-estates in Sri Aman and Sarikei Division. To date, there are 6,000 hectares of sago planted under this concept.

Under the 8MP, sago research will continue to be intensified as it has great potential for development in Sarawak. Sago grows well on peat soil and 13% of Sarawak soil is peat.

Livestock

Although Sarawak is self sufficient in poultry and pork, there is a marked insufficiency in our production of ruminant livestock. Sarawak is targeting to raise its self-sufficiency level in beef and mutton from the present 4% to 15% within a decade. This will involve a concerted effort in the development of buffaloes, cattle, sheep and goats.

Large-scale plantation using modern farming equipment... the farming concept of the future

The project that involves the integration of cattle rearing with oil palm estates development is already being implemented in Miri with encouraging results.

To further enhance its poultry industry, the Agriculture Department introduced the Quality Assurance Programme (QAP) in 2001. With this, consumers can be assured of safe and clean poultry from the market.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture is a lucrative business and if managed efficiently can generate huge income.

The Agriculture Department will focus on the commercial develop-ment of tiger prawns under the 8MP.

Sarawak ‘s tiger prawns are of high grade. One programme implemented this year is the labelling of product quality of tiger prawns especially for the export market.

Efforts to produce quality fish is also being intensified by developing new fishery products and encouraging private investors to go into downstream processing.

There is potential to develop several high priced indigenous fish such as Ikan Semah, Ikan Empurau, Sayan and Tapah.

The Agriculture Department recently signed an agreement with the an Australian university to develop a system of artificial breeding for these fish.

Other areas such as hatchery development and shrimp farming are also being considered by the Department.

* extracted from Farmers’ Bulletin, January 2001

Crop Industry Development under the 8MP (2001- 2005)

In the 8MP, the target for crop development is set as tabulated below:

Crop Hectares

Fruit 6,000

Rice 5,000

Coconut 6,800

Sago 5,200

Oil palm 4,500

Pepper & Spices 2,530

Rubber 10,000

Vegetables 1,000

Field crop 4,300

Other perennials 4,000

Herbs & Medical plants 200

Source : Farmers’ Bulletin, January 2001