KUCHING: Sarawak is one step closer to realising its long-standing aspiration of re-establishing Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in the state, a move expected to enhance local agricultural research, education, and food security.
Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the initiative which will be materialised into UPM Sarawak will happen during the declaration of the university itself involving the Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj and the Ministry itself on June 30.
“This has always been our dream. Having a UPM campus here gives Sarawak the opportunity to shape academic programmes tailored to our agro-based needs and realities
“Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and myself alongside some of our staff will be going to meet Sultan Selangor for the declaration,” he said after attending the Excellent Service Award Department of Agriculture Sarawak at Imperial Hotel here today (June 18).
He noted that the presence of UPM in the state would help develop homegrown talent, reduce dependence on institutions in Peninsular Malaysia, and pave the way for the state to build stronger agrotechnology capabilities.
“We’re already discussing what programmes Sarawak truly needs. This gives us the autonomy to match agricultural education with on-ground realities, especially in commodities and food production,” he added.
In the meantime, Rundi further said that Sarawak’s direction in agriculture is shifting towards smart farming, with a heavy emphasis on precision agriculture and data-driven solutions.
“Moving forward, we need to make farming smarter. Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) will guide how we manage land and inputs like nutrients, ensuring we don’t waste resources but optimise yields,” he said.
He also highlighted that such efforts were part of the broader push to modernise the agro sector and reduce reliance on traditional practices that often overlook soil health and crop compatibility.
At the same time, Rundi stated that Sarawak’s growing role in the national commodity export scene reinforces the urgency to strengthen self-sufficiency.
“While the growth is encouraging, we need to reinvest in our ability to produce what we consume especially when it comes to livestock feed and aquaculture inputs, much of which are still imported from countries like Brazil,” he said.
He added that by localising education and improving agro-tech infrastructure, Sarawak can better prepare its future farmers and entrepreneurs to thrive in an increasingly complex food landscape.
“The vision is clear education, innovation, and self-reliance must go hand in hand,” he stressed.
