MIRI – Sarawak’s Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Anak Utom, has urged the Agriculture Department to embrace smart farming and artificial intelligence (AI) as part of its transformation into a modern, technology-driven sector.
Speaking at a sharing session attended by more than 100 department employees and agency representatives at the Grand Palace Hotel, Dr Rundi emphasised that the department must remain relevant after reaching its centenary milestone.
He noted that digital transformation is key to attracting young people into agriculture, positioning it as a career that offers sustainable and lucrative returns.
“After 100 years of the existence of the Agriculture Department, we need to ask how relevant we are in this modern era. We can no longer just rely on old methods. The use of AI is very critical now to increase productivity and operational efficiency in the field,” he said.
Dr Rundi highlighted the growing potential of oil palm as a driver of the local economy, noting that rising prices have positively impacted growers around Miri.
He expressed hope that this momentum would continue with greater youth involvement, stressing that agriculture must be rebranded from heavy manual labour into a high-tech industry to ensure food supply sustainability.
He also underscored the importance of leadership synergy, reminding staff of the need for strong cooperation between the new Miri Division agriculture officer and employees under her guidance. Effective collaboration, he said, is essential to implementing ministry policies at the grassroots level.
The event was attended by Sarawak Deputy Director of Agriculture, Gilbert Anak Igi; Miri Division Agriculture Officer, Chong Mui Sia; JBALB Miri Division Engineer, Ts Lau Jing Teck; Miri Land and Survey Superintendent, Anthony Aboi; as well as representatives from the Resident’s Office, JKR, and JPS Miri.
Observers note that the minister’s call reflects Sarawak’s broader push to modernise agriculture through innovation and technology.
Smart farming, which integrates AI, data analytics, and automation, is expected to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve sustainability.
By encouraging youth participation, the state aims to build a resilient agricultural sector capable of meeting future challenges.
