BELAGA: Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bakun and SMK Belaga have been chosen as pilot schools for the implementation of the Sarawak Energy Initiative Smart Agriculture Programme.
The initiative is viewed as a catalyst for transforming education and modern agriculture in rural communities.
Murum assemblyman Kennedey Chukpai Ugon said the programme not only exposes students to smart agriculture technology at an early stage, but also creates new opportunities for rural communities to enhance their quality of life through modern, efficient and sustainable farming methods.
He said the programme demonstrates that digital transformation can start at the school level, including in remote areas, through the adoption of modern technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), automation and smart farming systems.
“This programme is designed to expose students to modern and safe smart agriculture practices, while introducing IoT technology and basic entrepreneurial skills.
“This smart agriculture programme also brings considerable added value to schools and teachers as it provides a practical, engaging and relevant learning platform that aligns with current technological advancements.
“Teachers are also supported through the use of modern equipment that can enhance teaching methods and help students relate classroom theories to real-world applications,” he said in an UKAS report during the launch of the programme at SMK Bakun recently.
Chukpai added that the initiative is in line with the proposed establishment of a Smart Agriculture Transformation Centre (SATC) in the Bakun Resettlement Scheme (BRS) area in Sungai Asap, which he had proposed during the recent State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting to strengthen community-based smart agriculture development.
He said the SATC is expected to serve as a modern agricultural training centre featuring smart technology, community greenhouses, and organised production and marketing systems with a focus on youth participation and rural communities.
At the same time, he emphasised that the implementation of the RM36-million Sungai Asap Digital Village (SADV) project by the Sarawak Government would serve as a major catalyst for the growth of the digital economy and smart agriculture technology in rural areas.
