Lingga Rep: Sarawak Padi and Rice Board Bill to Accelerate Batang Lupar Infrastructure
Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor, the representative for Lingga, stated that the Sarawak Padi and Rice Board Bill, 2026, is crucial for accelerating long-delayed infrastructure development in the Batang Lupar Integrated Agricultural Development Area. Speaking during the State Legislative Assembly sitting, she argued that the legislation would help transform the region into a major rice granary hub for Sarawak. Noorazah highlighted that despite proven potential and improving productivity data, farmers have waited years for project realization due to delays in irrigation, drainage, and road infrastructure. These delays have disrupted planting schedules, increased operational costs, and weakened investor confidence. She emphasized that food security is now a geopolitical and economic issue, necessitating direct state coordination rather than fragmented implementation. Furthermore, she advocated for a complete ecosystem approach involving research, logistics, and marketing, while modernizing agriculture through digitalization and smart farming. Her goal is to rebrand agriculture from dirty, dangerous, and difficult jobs to a digitalized, decent, and dynamic sector to attract younger generations. The planned development covers approximately 5,100 hectares across several areas including Lingga, Seduku, and Bijat.
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Lingga Rep: Sarawak Padi and Rice Board Bill to Accelerate Batang Lupar Infrastructure
Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor, the representative for Lingga, stated that the Sarawak Padi and Rice Board Bill, 2026, is crucial for accelerating long-delayed infrastructure development in the Batang Lupar Integrated Agricultural Development Area. Speaking during the State Legislative Assembly sitting, she argued that the legislation would help transform the region into a major rice granary hub for Sarawak. Noorazah highlighted that despite proven potential and improving productivity data, farmers have waited years for project realization due to delays in irrigation, drainage, and road infrastructure. These delays have disrupted planting schedules, increased operational costs, and weakened investor confidence. She emphasized that food security is now a geopolitical and economic issue, necessitating direct state coordination rather than fragmented implementation. Furthermore, she advocated for a complete ecosystem approach involving research, logistics, and marketing, while modernizing agriculture through digitalization and smart farming. Her goal is to rebrand agriculture from dirty, dangerous, and difficult jobs to a digitalized, decent, and dynamic sector to attract younger generations. The planned development covers approximately 5,100 hectares across several areas including Lingga, Seduku, and Bijat.
Borneo Post Online