A proposal to establish a dedicated Sarawak Rice Research Institute has been put forward to modernise and strengthen the state’s food security sector.
Tellian assemblyman Royston Valentine said the proposed institute could serve as a centre of excellence for research in modern agricultural technology, seed development, mechanisation, smart farming and artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture.
“If we want Sarawak to become a leader in the future food industry, investment in research and innovation must begin now,” he said during the debate on the Sarawak Padi and Rice Board Bill, 2026 at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today (May 12).
He said the institute could also focus on developing padi varieties that are more resilient to extreme weather, disasters and Sarawak’s soil conditions, including peatland areas.
He said the agriculture sector could no longer rely solely on traditional farming methods as the global industry is moving towards smart agriculture and precision farming using AI, Internet of Things (IoT), drones, automation and data analytics.
He added the proposed Bill would help coordinate and strengthen the state’s rice industry more systematically through research, technology, logistics, investment and marketing.
“All efforts to develop the padi industry can be implemented in a more systematic, coordinated and effective manner,” he said.
Royston also stressed the need to attract more youth into the agriculture sector by integrating digital technology and innovation into modern farming.
“We want to produce more young Sarawak agropreneurs who are not only capable of increasing food production, but also becoming technology creators, modern entrepreneurs and international agro industry players,” he said.
