SERIAN: A grain corn cultivation project in Kampung Labak Tungan under the Bukit Semuja constituency has expanded to 43 hectares, with buyers already placing advance orders for the harvest as demand continues to grow.
Bukit Semuja assemblyman, John Ilus, said the project has grown from a pilot initiative into a commercial farming venture through collaboration with the Samarahan Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA).
He said the idea was first conceived following the Agriculture Community Outreach Programme (AgriCOP) held at Kampung Riih Daso on August 19, 2020, to identify suitable sites for commercial grain corn cultivation.
“The project underwent trial and experimental phases in 2022 and 2023 before expanding to 10 hectares in 2024 and another 10 hectares in 2025. The cultivated area has since grown to about 43 hectares.
“This year’s harvest is being carried out in three phases covering about 10 hectares in total. Several rounds of harvesting had already been completed before this,” he told Sarawak Tribune after attending the first phase of this year’s grain corn harvest at Kampung Labak Tungan today (June 25).
John said the project is now managed by a cooperative established by participating farmers and headed by Suimi Slimin.
He said IADA Samarahan had played a key role in the project’s development by providing training, machinery, materials and technical support since its early stages.
John added that further assistance was on the way, with IADA set to provide additional machinery and infrastructure, while the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA) would build a new farm road and collection centre.
He said the Sarawak Department of Agriculture was also expected to come on board to further strengthen the initiative.
He said demand for the grain corn remained encouraging, with several buyers having already booked and paid in advance for the harvest.
“We have no problem with buyers as enquiries continue to increase from time to time,” he said.
