KUCHING: It is imperative for the Malaysia to work towards becoming a net exporter of food, says Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
He said the nation's total food imports was RM78.8 billion last year, with Sarawak accounting for RM6.8 billion.
"This dependence on imports is unsustainable," he said during his speech at the launch of a RM100 million Sarawak AgriFood Tech Sustainability Impact Fund here today.
His speech was read by his deputy, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
Abang Johari said Sarawak was heavily reliant on food imports.
He said it was crucial to recognise the global challenges impacting food security, adding that unpredictable climate conditions, geopolitical conflicts and disruptions caused by diseases, such as Covid-19, had exposed the fragility of the global food supply chains.
"He said under the state's Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030, food and agriculture has been identified as a key economic sector driving Sarawak's growth.
"Our vision is to modernise and commercialise the sector by employing smart farming techniques and forging global partnerships to accelerate production.
"This modernisation will support higher value-added downstream food processing, particularly for export markets," he said.
He added that the state government was fostering active private sector participation to accelerate the adoption of modern agricultural practices.
"Initiatives, such as agroparks, aquaculture parks, and agrotechnology parks, are already underway," the premier said.
On the Sarawak AgriFoodTech Sustainability Impact Fund, he said it was a cornerstone of the state government's strategy to revolutionise the food and agriculture sector.
He said the fund, established in collaboration with Borneo Ventures Link (BVL) and First Frontier Ventures (FFV), was not just a financial tool but a catalyst for transformative change.
"It will empower Sarawak's farmers, agropreneurs, and innovators to adopt cutting-edge technologies, refine their practices, and ultimately enhance the value of the state's agricultural outputs," he said.