Kota Kinabalu: Warisan Luyang Assemblyman Samuel Wong welcomed Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar’s commitment to attract more young people into the agricultural sector.
He said that its success depends on whether urban youth and city-based entrepreneurs are meaningfully included through practical and inclusive policies.
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Wong said agriculture remains Sabah’s key economic driver, contributing RM12.2 billion or 14.5 per cent to the state’s gross domestic product, supported by vast fertile land and favourable climatic conditions.
However, he said participation in the sector must move beyond traditional rural farming models if Sabah is serious about long-term food security and economic resilience.
“If Sabah truly wants to become a leading food-producing state and reduce its dependence on imports, agriculture must be made accessible to everyone — including urban residents who have the interest, skills and entrepreneurial drive but lack land ownership and start-up capital,” he said in a statement.
Wong noted that many young urban agro-entrepreneurs are keen to venture into poultry farming, aquaponics, urban vegetable and fruit farming, fish rearing and value-added food production, but face higher entry barriers such as land rental, infrastructure costs and equipment investment.
He said these challenges could be addressed through targeted grants, soft loans and structured financing schemes, alongside cooperative-based farming models that allow new entrants to pool resources, share risks and gain access to land, facilities and markets.
“In addition to funding, there must be strong emphasis on hands-on training, mentorship programmes and technical courses to help young agropreneurs build sustainable and commercially viable operations,” he said.
While welcoming the government’s focus on smart farming, Internet of Things (IoT) applications and digital agriculture, Wong cautioned that technology alone is insufficient without consistent support, implementation and market access.
“Smart agriculture must be backed by financing, skills transfer and value-chain development, otherwise it risks remaining a slogan rather than a solution,” he said.
Wong added that expanding agricultural participation beyond rural areas would strengthen food security while creating new income streams, quality jobs and youth-led innovation, ensuring the sector remains relevant and future-ready.
“Agriculture today is no longer just about land ownership. It is about ideas, technology, cooperation and support. If policies are done right, both rural and urban Sabahans can be part of this growth story,” he said.
