KUCHING: The involvement of youth in agriculture is vital to strengthen Sarawak’s food security and reduce reliance on imports, said Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development, Datuk Martin Ben.
“I am very encouraged to see that the majority of participants in the Sustainable Modern Agriculture Through Rural Technopreneurship (SMART) programme are youths. You are the hope of our region in building a stronger agricultural sector.
“Take full advantage of the knowledge and technology you’ve gained during this training to improve efficiency and productivity in your business, and contribute meaningfully to the development of agriculture in Sarawak,” he said.
He said this during the closing ceremony of the SMART Programme Series 1/2025 held at Sarawak Skills, here on Thursday.
Martin also advised budding agropreneurs to start small and seek assistance from relevant government agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Veterinary Services.
“Guidance from these agencies can help you scale your ventures in a sustainable and structured way,” he said.
He expressed hope that the programme would serve as a stepping stone in achieving the goals outlined under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, especially in modernising the agricultural sector.
The month-long programme, held from June 16 to July 17, was a collaborative effort between the ministry and Sarawak Skills.
It involved 18 participants from Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Gedong, Simunjan and Sebuyau.
The SMART initiative is designed to equip rural-based agropreneurs, particularly those involved in food production, handicrafts and agro-tourism, with knowledge and skills in digital tools and ICT, to help them expand their market reach.
The next instalments of the programme, SMART Series 2 and 3, are expected to be held in Limbang and Miri respectively.
Also present at the event were Department of Agriculture Director, Dominic Chunggat, Acting Executive Director of Sarawak Skills, Mohamad Isham Fauzi, and the Ministry’s Principal Assistant Secretary (Regional Development Section), Atiqah Dolhan.
