BINTULU: The Sarawakku Sayang Agro Sales (JASS) program in conjunction with Sarawak Agrofest 2025 has received an encouraging response when it offers basic daily necessities at half the price compared to the market.
Sarawak Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, said the initiative has provided great benefits to the people through the provision of combo goods such as rice, cooking oil, sugar, salt and flour at affordable prices.
“This year, FAMA is requesting an allocation of RM200,000 to implement this program. However, for next year, we will request up to RM5 million so that Sarawakku Sayang Agro Sales can be expanded to the whole of Sarawak,” he said when met at the program’s launch at the Agrotrade Mini Stage, Sarawak Agrofest 2025 on Saturday.
According to him, Sarawak cannot continue to depend on food imports due to currency exchange factors and rising global raw material prices.
In this regard, the ministry's policy is to transform agriculture through modern technology so that the state is more resilient.
As of the eight days of Agrofest, the sales value has reached RM5.4 million with a total of more than 800,000 visitors, thus proving the effectiveness of this platform in bringing together entrepreneurs and consumers.
In the meantime, he also suggested that Bintulu be retained as the Agrofest finale location after organizing Mini Agrofests at other divisional levels, due to its strategic location and ability to become a main focus.
He hoped that such an organization could encourage more youth to venture into the modern agricultural sector, in line with the government's goal under PCDS 2030 to increase the household income of farming communities by up to RM15,000 per month.
Also present to enliven the event were Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail and Datuk Maclaine @ Martin Ben, the ministry's Permanent Secretary Datu Sirai Daha, Tanjong Batu State Assemblyman (ADUN), Johnny Pang Leong Ming, Jepak Assemblyman, Iskandar Turkee, Bintulu Resident Datu Nyurak Keti and Sarawak FAMA Director Norsalawaty Abdul Kadir.
