SPAOH — The inaugural Spaoh Agrofest 2025, held at the Waterfront Spaoh on Saturday, is being hailed as a vital platform in advancing Sarawak’s vision for a modern, efficient, and globally competitive agriculture sector.
Officiated by the Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, the event featured a keynote address by Dato Sri Dr. Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister of Food Industries, Commodities and Regional Development, who underscored the importance of integrating technology into agriculture to enhance productivity and uplift the sector’s status.
“Technology saves time and energy while significantly increasing agricultural yields,” he said. “We want to reposition agriculture as a business and a professional field capable of generating substantial income, not merely a traditional occupation.”
Dato Sri Dr. Stephen Rundi emphasised that agriculture must undergo a comprehensive transformation, including changing public perceptions about farming. He stressed that today’s modern farmers are technologically skilled professionals managing land-based enterprises with high economic value.
The minister also highlighted the Sarawak Government’s broader focus — under the leadership of the Premier — on not only growing state revenue but also improving the living standards and income of rural communities. This includes promoting agriculture as a viable and attractive career path for the younger generation.
“Events like Agrofest are not just exhibitions; they are hubs for innovation, policy dialogue, knowledge sharing, and the empowerment of our agricultural players,” he added.
One of the festival’s core messages is the urgent need to attract more youth into agriculture, aligning with the sector’s increasing reliance on digital tools, smart farming systems, and modern business models.
Spaoh Agrofest 2025 symbolises a critical paradigm shift in Sarawak’s agricultural development — from traditional practices to a modernised, technology-driven approach poised to compete on a global scale.
