SEBAUH: Sarawak must not remain overly reliant on oil palm as the main contributor to the state’s agricultural output but instead diversify its focus across other subsectors to ensure food security and sustainable rural development.
Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, said that currently, oil palm accounts for 83 per cent of Sarawak’s total agricultural production, while other subsectors such as rice cultivation and livestock farming remain underdeveloped.
“This is not an impossible challenge. With integrated efforts, we can overcome it.
“We must place more emphasis on food crops and livestock to ensure a balanced national food supply chain,” he said when officiating at Pesta Sebauh 2025, held at the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) parking grounds on Saturday night.
He added that among the state’s proudest achievements so far is surpassing 100 per cent Self-Sufficiency Level (SSL) in key commodities such as pork, chicken and eggs – clear evidence of the state’s ability to meet domestic needs.
“This proves that the right policies and strategies can strengthen the agricultural sector holistically and improve the resilience of the rural economy,” he added.
Pesta Sebauh 2025, which runs for 10 days from July 18 to 27, features more than 51 local entrepreneur stalls offering a wide array of products, including food, beverages, handicrafts, and handmade goods by the local community.
Visitors can also enjoy a variety of activities such as the Jom Sihat BDA aerobics session, lucky draws, the Sebauh Big Bike Unity Ride, a Battle of the Band competition, and the Power Boat Race 2025, which has attracted teams from within and outside the country, including Brunei.
Also present were Bintulu Division Resident, Datuk Nyurak Keti, and Sebauh District Officer, Thadeus Ling Allu Bartholomew Allu.
