Work with govt agencies to elevate agriculture sector, farmers advised
Wong (10th right) and representatives of the various organisations gather on stage during the closing ceremony of the conference.
SIBU (May 12): Farmers must work closely together with the relevant government agencies and department to bring agriculture to a higher level, said Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.
The Bawang Assan assemblyman said this is also to ensure consumers are not affected by food price hike due to high production cost.
He said the challenges faced by local farmers included climate change, labour shortage, and rising cost of fertilisers and insecticides.
'These factors affect their production and make their cost very heavy. They also have to upgrade their skills by learning to do mechanised farming, and engaging the use of artificial intelligence and drones in some areas.
'But of course this cannot be done by small-scale farmers; it has to be the big players. Therefore I suggest for the government to intervene particularly through the Agriculture Department,' he said.
Wong was met after officiating at the closing of the 2025 National Farmers Conference here yesterday.
The two-day conference was attended by 37 farmers' organisations from Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. agriculture farmers government agencies wong soon koh
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