Imagine a future where farming isn’t about back-breaking labour under the hot sun, but about piloting drones, analysing data on your smartphone, and running a high-tech business that feeds the nation.
That’s exactly the future the new Sarawak Padi and Rice Board Bill 2026 is trying to build, and it’s a future that desperately needs young people like you.
Here’s the reality check: Malaysia’s agriculture sector is facing a serious “silver tsunami.” According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s 2024 Agriculture Census Interim Report, only about 15 percent of the agricultural workforce is under 40 years old.
The average age of farmers is now around 60.
Even more striking, 45.4 percent of agricultural operators are aged 60 and above, while only 22.2 percent are between 15 and 45.
In Sarawak specifically, the situation is even more stark.
The state has only 3,583 young farmers aged 15 to 30, but a staggering 63,452 farmers aged 60 and above.
Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof has warned that this ageing workforce is threatening productivity and the country’s ability to sustain domestic food production.
“Without a skilled and competitive younger generation, our goal of reducing import dependence and ensuring national food security will be difficult to achieve,” he said.
So why should you care? Because rice isn’t just something on your plate.
It’s about security, stability, and even sovereignty.
The COVID-19 pandemic, global supply chain disruptions, and export restrictions by rice-producing countries have exposed how vulnerable food-importing regions can become.
The Honourable Member for Pelagus, YB Encik Wilson Nyabong anak Ijang, put it perfectly: food is no longer merely about agriculture but about security, stability and sovereignty.
The global picture is complex.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization projects world rice production in 2025-2026 to reach a record high of 556.4 million tonnes, with total global supply forecast to hit a record 767.2 million tonnes.
Yet despite this abundance, the FAO All Rice Price Index averaged 103.5 points in 2025, down 35.2 percent from 2024.
Malaysia still imports approximately 1.3 to 1.7 million metric tonnes of rice annually, and Sarawak’s current rice self-sufficiency level stands at only 21 percent.
This is where the new Board comes in, and why your generation is so important.
During the historic debate on the Bill, the Honourable Member for Tamin, YB Ir Christopher Gira anak Sambang, pushed for youth agricultural training programmes, young agropreneur schemes, start-up grants, and modern agricultural technology training.
“Agriculture today is no longer about traditional farming alone.
It is now about technology, innovation, artificial intelligence, automation, the digital economy, and agro-entrepreneurship,” he said.
The Honourable Member for Engkilili, YB Encik Johnichal Rayong anak Ngipa, highlighted the importance of making padi farming profitable enough to keep young people in their communities.
He noted that the decline in hill padi cultivation in Engkilili has led to youth migrating to cities and agricultural land being abandoned.
“When padi planting becomes more profitable, young people will stay in the longhouse and the rural economy can be revitalised,” he said.
The Honourable Member for Pujut, YB Encik Adam Yii Siew Sang, emphasised that one of the major challenges faced by the agriculture industry today is the ageing farming population.
He proposed that the Sarawak Government expand opportunities for agriculture-related tertiary education within Sarawak-owned universities and higher learning institutions, including such courses under Sarawak’s Free Tertiary Education Scheme.
The good news? Young people are starting to take notice.
Under the Young Agropreneur Programme, youth participation has shown a steady increase, with 843 young agropreneurs benefiting from grants in 2025, compared with 704 in 2022.
A total of 3,123 grants worth RM70.4 million were approved between 2022 and 2025.
The number of youths aged 18 to 45 awarded grants showed a consistent upward trend: 704 in 2022, 758 in 2023, 818 in 2024, and 843 in 2025.
Modern agriculture is becoming a 4D+ industry: digitalised, decent, data-driven, dynamic and future-oriented.
It’s about Smart Agriculture and Precision Farming using Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, agricultural drones, automation, and data analytics to increase productivity and efficiency.
The Honourable Member for Tellian, YB Encik Royston bin Valentine, stressed that agriculture today can no longer move in a traditional manner alone.
The Sarawak Government is investing heavily in this transformation.
Sarawak’s Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, YB Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi anak Utom, has emphasised the need for a new generation of tech-driven farmers.
The state has introduced Agroparks, precision farming, and IoT-based smart farming initiatives that emphasise innovation and efficiency over hard manual labour.
The new Board will have the power to collect comprehensive industry data, which is crucial because without accurate data, Sarawak cannot know the actual level of production, identify the most suitable areas, or strategically plan long-term food security.
The Board will also be empowered to regulate the industry, formulate development plans, promote investment, conduct research and development, commercialise research findings, coordinate marketing strategies, and provide financial assistance.
Sarawak currently has approximately 20 to 30 local paddy varieties, including heritage rice such as Bario, Biris and Bajong, often regarded as agricultural black gold.
Sarawak premium rice remains the only locally produced rice recorded by the Department of Statistics Malaysia as being licensed for international export, including to Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and other destinations.
The path forward is clear.
The Sarawak Padi and Rice Board Bill 2026 has been passed into law, establishing a dedicated institutional framework for Sarawak to regulate, coordinate, promote and develop the paddy and rice industry.
But legislation alone isn’t enough.
The Board needs young people with fresh ideas, technological skills, and entrepreneurial spirit to make this vision a reality.
As the Honourable Member for Tamin said, “If this sector is modernised properly, I believe agriculture can become a new source of wealth for rural communities”.
And as the Honourable Member for Engkilili reminded everyone, “No community should be left behind in Sarawak’s development journey”.
So whether you’re interested in drone technology, data analytics, agribusiness, or just want to be part of something that truly matters for Sarawak’s future, the rice revolution is calling.
The fields of tomorrow won’t just grow rice, they’ll grow careers, communities, and a more food-secure Sarawak.
And they need you to make it happen.
References
BigMint. (2025, October 7). Global rice market to see record-high production, favourable supply in 2025-2026. https://www.bigmint.co/insights/detail/global-rice-stocks-record-2025-26-trade-forecast-686430
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2026). FAO GIEWS Country Brief on Malaysia. https://cb.apps.fao.org
Freemalaysiatoday. (2025, May 29). Ageing farmers threaten food security, productivity, says Fadillah. https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/05/29/ageing-farmers-threaten-food-security-productivity-says-fadillah
Harian Metro. (2026, March 28). Hanya 15 peratus anak muda ceburi sektor pertanian negara. https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2026/03/1338652/hanya-15-peratus-anak-muda-ceburi-sektor-pertanian-negara
Negosyante. (2026, January 6). Rice prices rebound in early 2026 after hitting 6-year low in 2025. https://negosyante.org/rice-prices-rebound-in-early-2026-after-hitting-6-year-low-in-2025/
Sarawak Tribune. (2026, May 12). Tamin rep pushes youth-driven transformation of agriculture sector. https://www.sarawaktribune.com/tamin-rep-pushes-youth-driven-transformation-of-agriculture-sector/
The Star. (2026, March 4). More youths tap agropreneur grants under PAM. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/03/04/more-youths-tap-agropreneur-grants-under-pam
Utusan Borneo. (2026, May 12). RUU Lembaga Padi dan Beras Sarawak 2026 langkah strategik perkasa industri padi, jamin kebajikan pesawah. https://www.utusanborneo.com.my/2026/05/12/ruu-lembaga-padi-dan-beras-sarawak-2026-langkah-strategik-perkasa-industri-padi-jamin