Photo credit: www.thenational.ae

The trip orchestrated the meeting of likeminded minds; experts in their respective agricultural specializations which included researchers, academicians and invited national and international media.

With the theme, “Transforming the Agriculture Sector Through Smart Farming”, ICAAS 2018 showcased the leap taken into the future of agriculture in Sarawak to over 1,500 delegates. In his opening speech, Yang Berbahagia Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Region Development Sarawak (MANRED) declared that, “The various notable agricultural transformation programmes which include the rapid adoption of digital technology was geared towards realizing The Right HonourableChief Minister’s goal to make Sarawak as the net exporter of food by 2030. Thus, achieving his vision to make Sarawak as a developed and high-income State by 2030.”

Highlights include best practices in smart or precision farming, public-private sector partnership, farmers’ organizations and ‘agropreneurs’ in commercializing the agriculture sector. A key component of the Conference was the introduction of the very first ‘Sarawak Agrofest’- spanning over a total of nine days and featuring 210 booths offering a plethora of local products, ideas, and innovations. The event which was open to the public had featured a special Sarawak Smart Farming Pavilion; its insightful display was the advent of the latest modern technology.

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik, Permanent Secretary of MANRED cum Deputy Chairman of the State-level Organising Committee of Sarawak Agrofest 2018 emphasized on the expansion of the ICAAS 2018 by reiterating the importance of theory and practical applications within the industry- a different approach to the very first edition of ICAAS that leaned towards academic orientation. This year’s edition of ICAAS has been tailored to include a more practical approach and we have enlisted the involvement of pertinent organizations such as the Sarawak Farmers’ Organization, amongst many others to be involved and to share their in-depth experience and knowledge. They are optimistic that in the future, an expansion to include the participation of BIMP-EAGA and ASEAN nations to further increase collaborative learning will lead to joint breakthroughs for the region, he added.

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Photo credit: Sarawak Convention Bureau

The introduction of the inaugural Agri-Fam 2018 was a strong indicator of the committed partnership between Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) with the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Sarawak (MANRED) since the launch of SCB’s BESarawak Alliance (BESA)- the dedicated associate platform for government ministries and agencies to further Sarawak’s economic transformation, which was launched two months ago. As the state recognizes the strength of a concerted approach towards the future of Business Events, the impact of this collaboration is manifold; with a highlight on Sarawak’s unique biodiversity evident through the site visits encapsulated within the programme of the Agri-Fam 2018.

Among the series of visits included one to the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC); a first of its kind in Malaysia to enact a biodiversity law in line with the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol (Access and Benefit Sharing). Notably, with its unique ‘Traditional Knowledge Documentation’ Programme, SBC has built an impressive inventory of biodiversity and a ‘Library of Natural Products’ with over 6,000 species that have been identified.

In addition, Agri-Fam 2018 participants caught a glimpse of a sustainably-rooted corporate initiative as showcased by Hornbill Agriculture whose hope is to create the awareness of “Food Safety while increasing its productivity”. Its practices include the utilization of plant-based compost derived from organic waste that has been cultivated by probiotics. Spanning over 135 acres to date as it continues to expand its production, the company currently focuses on sweetcorn, papayas and ‘terung dayak’ production. Immediately after, a demonstration by social enterprise, WormingUp; a waste management consultancy that utilizes its own technology to ultimately reduce food waste efficiently took place. WormingUp is responsible for Hornbill Agriculture’s waste management and Jeff Wee, its founder, gave an insight to the processes of ‘worm composting’ and ‘enzyme composting’- both crucial to the enterprise’s operations.

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Photo credit: Sarawak Convention Bureau

Weaved between site inspections to Kuching’s prominent business hotels and convention centers, was a visit to a stingless bee (kelulut) farm in Sampadi, Lundu and to a processing plant in Demak Laut afterwards. Sarawak is the largest producer of kelulut honey in Malaysia with over 200 stingless bee farmers in the State, opened its doors to the international participants who saw the potential of the “new honey” as commercialization continues to overshadow what was once a cottage industry.

SCB’s commitment to elevate the status of Sarawak in terms of Business Events continue to rise as this trip; a first of its kind, that paves the way for many more alike opportunities and equally applicable to other sectors. Working in tandem with the State government’s vision, the knowledge exchange and potential collaborative efforts during the Agri-Fam trip had already bore fruit as it drew to a close.

SCB’s General Manager of Government and Industry Relations- Chew Chang Guan, is optimistic of what the future engagements would entail. SCB’s strength in bringing in various international conferences translates to the influx of experts coming to our shores. We must capitalize on how this can help us to grow. The State’s focus is on agriculture, more importantly how it sits in this digital era that we are traversing into. Therefore, they must combine their skills and leverage on their global partnerships to watch Sarawak grow from strength to strength. In return, we are also very pleased that our experts who have graced us with their presence for the Agri-Fam 2018 trip and to showcase our own specialties and open the door to more agricultural alliances, he concluded.

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