Here are some ways how TKPM have or could have impacting the State’s agriculture industry.
Commercialization of food production to meet market demand
One of the main objectives for the establishment of TKPM in Sarawak is to promote massive food production for the purpose of commercialization and therefore meet the global and domestic market demand.
This is in line with the State’s vision of becoming a net exporter of food and food products by the year 2030.
Aside from that Sarawak is not short of global export demands for agriculture crops to countries such as China and Singapore.
Among them includes the export of Musang King durian, tilapia fish, pineapple and bird’s nest among others.
In Sarawak, aside from Rampangi, TKPM are also located namely in Semenggok (Kuching), Pejiru (Tasik Biru), Sungai Ma’aw (Sibu), Penipah (Mukah), Kabuloh (Miri) and Kubong (Limbang).
Promote the use of IoT in agriculture sector
TKPM Rampangi has successfully implement the use of Internet of Things (IoT) system in food production with the objective of making it as the modal for smart agriculture in Sarawak.
For example, it was reported that TKPM Rampangi has 40 rain shelter structure or struktur perlindungan hujan (SPH), equipped with IoT in 2019 and fully completed in 2020.
The IoT system in the park also includes sensors to monitor control the input of fertilizer, temperature and humidity.
Due to the implantation of IoT, the value of production from TKPM Rampangi reached RM697,529 with a production of 66.9 metric tons from 2018 to 2020.
Eventually, the smart agriculture method is anticipated to be implemented to all agricultural projects in Sarawak.
Starting in 2021, the Sarawak Department of Agriculture (DoA) is planning to adopt the same model in several different locations, including the Semonggok Agricultural Research Centre, Tarat Agricultural Station and Sungai Sebiew Agricultural Training Centre.
Job opportunities for youths
The establishment of TKPM is also a great opportunity to provide job opportunities to the youths.
The youths in Sarawak have been urged to take up modern farming as there is potential and promise of good earnings in the sector.
It is noted that the Rampangi Agriculture Research Station is one such modern farming model has a handful of young farmers and are reported doing well.
In line with the Sarawak’s digital economy initiative, the State is also gearing to modernise its agriculture sector to attract the young generation to take up farming as a career.
However, one of the biggest challenges in the agriculture sector in Sarawak is that the youths are not keen on having farming as a career due to their perception of farming being antiquated and unprofitable with intense labour.
So, by modernising it through the adoption of modern and advanced technology which will make the sector trendier, with less menial work but greater returns.
Promote more R&D in food supply
The food and crops industry are a huge contribution to research and development (R&D) for the purpose of commercialization.
The massive crops production from TKPM can be seen as an opportunity to expand R&D in Sarawak for its commercial varieties.
This is possible as Sarawak is a mass producer for a variety of crop such as durian, pineapple and banana. Among the purpose of R&D on food products for commercialization includes developing new ingredients or formula, creating new flavour or product range, improve its nutritional content and create healthier products, devising ways to lengthen its shelf life as well as innovating ways to deal with scraps, spoilage and waste.
