Samarahan to implement modern farming through agency's RM1.5bil funding

KUCHING: Modern agriculture will be introduced in the Samarahan division in line with Sarawak's aim to become a net food exporter, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The Sarawak Premier said RM1.5bil had been allocated to the Integrated Regional Samarahan Development Agency (IRSDA) to implement a range of programmes which include roads, electricity and water supply.

“Samarahan is suitable for food crops including rice because of its rich alluvial soil.

"Because of the area's potential for food production, we will put in place the infrastructure for modern farming in Samarahan.

"This will help us to improve our food production, so that Sarawak will be an exporter of food rather than an importer," he said when launching IRSDA here on Friday (June 10).

Abang Johari said it was important to increase food production to ensure food security for the state.

“There is no reason the state could not produce more food as it has plenty of land.

“Therefore, modern agriculture is one of the key thrusts to be developed under IRSDA,” he said.

Meanwhile, IRSDA chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the agency had approved 608 projects as of the first quarter of this year.

Of this number, he said 201 had been completed while 86 were being implemented.

"Another 200 projects are in the planning stages and 121 will commence in the third quarter of this year or the first quarter of 2023," he added.

Abdul Karim said the completed projects included roads, bridges, flood mitigation works, drainage improvements and coastal bunds.