(Kuching, 5th) The Sarawak Government will continue to elevate the dignity of the state's farmers, comparable to the highly respected farmers in Europe.
Dato Sri Dr. Stephen Rundi , Sarawak's Minister for Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development, stated that it is well-known that people from agricultural backgrounds are often regarded as having limited knowledge.
He noted that, similar to other countries, the agricultural community is recognized and respected, especially in developed countries like the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand.
“The only way to enhance and improve our agriculture or agricultural product business is to view it as a legitimate enterprise. Besides, farmers need to embrace and adapt to new technologies, mechanization, and so on, rather than relying solely on their labor or wages.”
Stephen Rundi made this statement when speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of the Opah Metropolitan Food Cluster located in Kampung Stungkor Baru.
He believes that the only way forward is to adapt to new technologies, permitting the use of new methods in agriculture, including artificial intelligence (AI) and more.
He added that the use of new technologies like artificial intelligence will also help address the two major challenges in agriculture, namely climate change and adverse events.
Moreover, the Sarawak Government has also established a partnership with the Dutch government to share technology in the agricultural field.
“Therefore, I hope everyone, especially the villagers living here, can learn together. Don't just glance at it, otherwise, we won't know what to do.”
He also mentioned that friends from faraway Netherlands will share new knowledge with everyone, mainly presenting three concepts: AI, agriculture, and sustainability.