Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom at a press conference in conjunction with the official announcement of SAF 2025 at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, Kuching, today. Photo by Nadim Bokhari (TVS)
KUCHING, May 20: Smart agricultural technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and modern data-based agriculture will be the main focus in the organization of Sarawak Agrofest (SAF) 2025, the largest agricultural festival in Sarawak.
Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, said exposure to this technology is part of a strategic effort to attract young people who are tech-savvy to be actively involved in the agricultural sector as a professional and industry-based career.
“This approach can not only increase productivity and production quality, but can also change the perception that agriculture is a ‘3D’ job, i.e. dirty, difficult, dreadful, to a modern entrepreneurial field, promising lucrative returns,” he said.
He said this at a press conference in conjunction with the official announcement of SAF 2025 at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly here, today.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development, Datuk Martin Ben, Advisor in the Sarawak Premier's Office (Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development), Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom and the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Datu Sirai Daha.
With the theme "Industrialising Agro Sector Through Smart Technology", SAF 2025 will highlight the role of innovation and smart technology in driving productivity, sustainability and growth in Sarawak's agricultural sector.
The festival, which will take place for 10 days from August 22 to August 31 at the Old Bintulu Airport, is also expected to be officiated by Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on August 23.
More than 200 exhibitors from various backgrounds including government agencies, agribusiness companies, cooperatives, financial institutions and technology companies are expected to participate in this prestigious festival.
“SAF 2025 is expected to attract more than 600,000 visitors, with a potential sales value of RM6 million, an increase of about 20 percent compared to the previous edition,” he said.
He added that several divisional and district-level Agrofests were also planned as pre-launch events for SAF 2025, two of which were successfully held in Limbang and Pakan.
Mini Agrofests will be held in Serian (23 to 25 May), Spaoh (25 to 27 July), Selangau (1 to 3 August), and Subis (8 to 10 August) before the main SAF 2025 event begins.
