The farmers who have sustained Sarawak pepper for generations are growing older. Across Malaysia, nearly half of individual farmers are now aged 60 and above, with youth participation in agriculture hovering at a mere 15 percent. This demographic reality presents both a profound challenge and an unprecedented opportunity for Sarawak’s pepper industry. A new generation of young Sarawakians, armed with digital fluency and entrepreneurial ambition, is being called upon to carry forward the legacy of the “King of Spices” into a technology-driven future. This article explores how the convergence of youth-centric policies, smart farming technologies, and sustainable practices is reshaping pepper production from an ageing vocation into a dynamic, lucrative, and future-proof career for Sarawak’s next generation.
Why Youth Participation Matters
The ageing crisis in Malaysian agriculture is no longer a distant concern but a present reality with immediate consequences. Preliminary findings from the 2024 Agriculture Census reveal a growing demographic imbalance, with most individual farmers now aged 60 and above. A systematic review of the sector confirms that Malaysia’s agriculture faces a labour shortage due to its domination by ageing farmers and persistently low youth participation, driven by negative perceptions of agriculture as a dirty, dangerous, and difficult occupation. In Sarawak, where pepper cultivation remains the economic backbone for thousands of rural families, this demographic shift threatens not only the continuity of production but also the intergenerational transfer of invaluable indigenous knowledge about pepper cultivation that has been refined over centuries.
The consequences of failing to attract young people into pepper farming extend far beyond labour statistics. Older farmers, despite their deep experience, tend to rely on traditional methods and have limited exposure to modern technologies. This technological gap constrains productivity and limits the industry’s ability to meet increasingly stringent international quality and sustainability standards. As one analysis notes, the ageing farming population not only leads to labour shortages but also affects productivity and innovation, creating a cycle of stagnation that makes the sector even less attractive to potential young entrants.
However, this challenge is also a catalyst for transformation. The same study observes that advances in smart farming, automation, data-driven practices, and biotechnological innovation have made agriculture more attractive and capable of generating stable income, positioning it as a professional field that requires knowledge, skills, and creativity rather than merely physical labour. For Sarawak’s pepper industry, the imperative is clear: the sector must be fundamentally reimagined as a technology-enabled, commercially viable enterprise that appeals to the aspirations and capabilities of a new generation.
Empowering Youth Through Technology and Education
At the centre of this transformation is the unwavering commitment of Premier Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, who has consistently articulated a vision of modern agriculture as a career of choice for young Sarawakians. Speaking at the launch of the Karnival Medan Niaga Satok, the Premier declared a clear message for the youth: “Modern agriculture is no longer a low-paying job, it has become a career that uses modern technology and is competitive.” This statement directly challenges the outdated perception of farming as low-income manual labour, reframing it as a competitive, technology-driven profession.
The Premier’s vision extends beyond rhetoric to concrete policy and investment. He has emphasised that the younger generation must be trained in modern technological education within the agricultural sector so they can become agro-entrepreneurs and lead the industry in the future. This commitment is embodied in the state’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030, which identifies food and agriculture as a key economic sector, and in substantial budgetary allocations that directly support youth agricultural development. The 2026 Sarawak Budget allocated RM73 million specifically for modernising agricultural practices through advanced technologies, including funding for the Sarawak Agrotechnology Park and Precision Farming Parks.
Crucially, the Premier has recognised that education is the foundation upon which a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs must be built. The state government has introduced the Free Tertiary Education Scheme with an allocation of RM250 million to ensure that Sarawak’s youth are equipped with the knowledge and skills to lead the agricultural sector into the future. As the Premier affirmed, “The transformation of the agricultural industry cannot happen without changes in the management and mindset of farmers. Therefore, education is a key pillar in this long-term effort”. This holistic approach, combining technological investment with educational empowerment, creates an ecosystem in which young Sarawakians can envision and achieve prosperous careers in modern pepper farming.
A New Generation of Pepper Farmers
The transformation from traditional to modern pepper farming is already being demonstrated by young entrepreneurs across Malaysia who are proving that agriculture can be both profitable and prestigious. One compelling example is 36-year-old Maswan Sulad, a pepper entrepreneur who turned a small-scale farming venture into a thriving business employing 10 workers and producing up to 600 kilogrammes of pepper. Having initially been assisted only by family members, Maswan used the Sejati Madani grant to expand his operations dramatically, boosting yields to between 70 and 80 kilogrammes at a time and developing his signature product, Sambal Barakunak. His story demonstrates that with the right financial support and entrepreneurial mindset, young farmers can scale their operations from subsistence to commercial success.
The success of young agropreneurs is not limited to individual cases but is reflected in broader national trends. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security shows that youth participation in the Young Agropreneur Programme has recorded a steady increase over the past four years, with 843 young agropreneurs receiving grants in 2025, compared with 704 in 2022, representing a consistent upward trajectory that includes 758 participants in 2023 and 818 in 2024. Between 2022 and 2025, a total of 3,123 grants worth RM70.4 million were approved under the programme, demonstrating the government’s substantial and sustained commitment to youth agricultural entrepreneurship.
Perhaps most encouraging for aspiring young pepper farmers is the income potential that modern agriculture now offers. Reports from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security indicate that modern agropreneurs have the potential to earn between RM5,000 and RM10,000 per month with proper guidance. In Johor, the Future Youth Agricultural Entrepreneur Programme has successfully cultivated young agricultural entrepreneurs, with some participants achieving monthly incomes of at least RM5,000 after three years of receiving incentives and mentorship. These figures fundamentally challenge the perception of farming as a low-income occupation and position pepper cultivation as a viable and attractive career path for ambitious young Sarawakians.
Financial Pathways
A comprehensive ecosystem of financial support has been established to lower the barriers for young people entering pepper farming and agricultural entrepreneurship. The cornerstone of this ecosystem is the Young Agropreneur Programme (Program Agropreneur Muda), which is specifically designed for Malaysian citizens aged 18 to 45 and aims to transform youth perceptions of agriculture as a viable industry while increasing young agropreneurs’ incomes through enhanced productivity, product quality, and technology adoption.
The programme offers two primary grant categories tailored to different stages of business development. The Geran Agropreneur Muda Start-Up aids of up to RM30,000 for upstream agricultural projects including crops, livestock, and fisheries, and up to RM20,000 for food-based and agro-based industry projects. For established young agropreneurs looking to expand, the Geran Agropreneur Muda Scale-Up offers up to RM50,000 to finance the acquisition of advanced agrotechnology, mechanisation, and automation equipment. Importantly, these grants are provided in the form of goods and equipment rather than cash, ensuring that the support directly enhances productivity and operational capacity.
Beginning in 2026, the federal government has introduced the Agropreneur NextGen programme, a rebranded and enhanced initiative under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security aimed at strengthening youth participation in the agro-food sector. This programme reflects a growing national commitment to positioning agriculture as a modern, competitive, and sustainable industry. Under the NextGen framework, applicants are actively encouraged to integrate smart farming systems, automation, efficient irrigation, and digital tools that reduce operating costs and improve yields, with specific emphasis on technologies such as drones, soil sensors, and automated systems.
The application process has been streamlined for accessibility, operating through the eGAN portal with applications open throughout the year. Eligibility for the Start-Up category requires applicants to be aged 18 to 43 with a net monthly income below RM5,000, while the Scale-Up category is open to those aged 21 to 45 with a net monthly income of at least RM5,000. These flexible income requirements ensure that the programme can accommodate a broad spectrum of young Malaysians, from those just beginning their agricultural journey to established entrepreneurs ready to scale.
Building the Skills Pipeline: Education, Training, and TVET
Financial support alone is insufficient without the skills and knowledge to deploy it effectively. Recognising this, Sarawak has invested heavily in building a robust pipeline of agricultural education and training that equips young people with the technical competencies required for modern pepper farming. The Sarawak Agriculture Institute in Semenggok has been at the forefront of this effort, with efforts underway to include Internet of Things as a new course at the institute. Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, has stated that the introduction of an IoT course would encourage younger Sarawakians to venture into agriculture, acknowledging that without such technological integration, young people would not have the motivation to pursue farming as a career.
The Technical and Vocational Education and Training ecosystem has been identified as a critical pathway for developing the skilled local workforce needed in the plantation and commodity sectors. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani have emphasised that TVET equips local youth with technical skills relevant to industry needs, and has committed to training approximately 250 TVET students annually in the plantation sector, who will then be placed in the industry based on specific requirements. The minister further affirmed that children from Sabah and Sarawak are the future of the industry, and with TVET skills, they can become the backbone of national plantation development.
The Sustainable Modern Agriculture Through Rural Technopreneurship Programme represents another key initiative that exposes youth and rural communities to smart agriculture while providing guidance in agricultural entrepreneurship. As articulated in the programme’s launch, smart agriculture is not just about technology but about adapting and changing the way farming is conducted to be more efficient and sustainable. Participants are introduced to sophisticated techniques that can improve the yield and quality of agricultural products, with many reporting significant increases in their knowledge and competence in modern agriculture techniques.
The Agricultural Community Outreach Programme further extends this educational mission into rural longhouse communities. As explained by Minister Dr Stephen Rundi, the programme is specifically aimed at encouraging youths and graduates to venture into agriculture, which has become more accessible with high-tech machinery and government initiatives such as greenhouses, smart farming, and agroparks. The minister has directly urged young people to embrace these new technologies through available training programmes, where they will be given land plots and greenhouses as models to kickstart modern farming ventures.
Technology as a Youth Magnet
The suite of precision agriculture technologies being deployed across Sarawak’s pepper industry serves not only to enhance productivity but also to fundamentally redefine the nature of agricultural work in ways that appeal directly to a digitally native generation. These tools transform pepper farming from a labour-intensive, experience-based occupation into a data-driven, technology-enabled profession that leverages skills young people already possess: comfort with smartphones, familiarity with apps, and appreciation for data and analytics.
The LadaGo mobile application, developed by the Malaysian Pepper Board, exemplifies this transformation. By enabling farmers to diagnose pepper diseases and nutrient deficiencies simply by taking a photograph with their smartphone, LadaGo replaces years of experiential knowledge with instant, accurate, AI-powered analysis. Complementing LadaGo are Dr. LADA and NutriLada, which together form a comprehensive digital advisory ecosystem. Dr. LADA, now in its second version, can identify six common pests and ten diseases while providing recommended treatments for each condition. NutriLada provides comprehensive information on essential nutrients for pepper cultivation, helping farmers understand the importance of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, and boron for optimal vine development. For a young person who has grown up with apps and digital tools, these applications represent a familiar and intuitive interface to agricultural expertise.
Internet of Things sensor networks represent an even more transformative technological frontier. These sensors, which continuously measure soil moisture, pH levels, temperature, and other environmental factors, provide the real-time data that enables precision irrigation and fertigation. Pilot projects conducted by the Malaysian Pepper Board at its research centres in Semenggok and Sarikei have demonstrated the potential to double yields from an average of 2 kilogrammes of pepper berries per vine to 4 kilogrammes per vine through IoT-enabled fertigation. This doubling of productivity, achieved through technology rather than increased physical labour, is precisely the kind of efficiency gain that makes modern agriculture appealing to a generation that values smart work over hard work.
Drone technology equipped with hyperspectral imaging capabilities further enhances the technological appeal of modern pepper farming. This technology, which earned the Malaysian Pepper Board a Gold Award at the Borneo International Technology Expo 2025, enables farmers to monitor crop health, detect diseases early, and improve the accuracy of farm planning from a smartphone screen. The integration of these technologies with the Agropreneur NextGen programme creates a virtuous cycle: young people are attracted to agriculture by the availability of advanced technology, and their participation in the sector is supported by grants that specifically fund the acquisition of agrotechnology, mechanisation, and automation equipment.
Aligning Youth Values with Global Market Demands
Young people today are demonstrably more environmentally conscious than previous generations, and their career choices are increasingly influenced by sustainability considerations. The Sarawak pepper industry’s embrace of sustainable agricultural practices, including the Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices certification scheme, aligns directly with these values. The Malaysian Pepper Board has actively promoted Environmental, Social, and Governance practices, targeting at least 20 per cent, or 2,000 hectares, of pepper farms to be MyGAP-certified by 2030.
This sustainability focus is not merely a matter of values alignment but a commercial imperative. Major international spice companies have unveiled comprehensive sustainability strategies for spices, including pepper, setting tailored 2030 targets that address the unique agronomic, environmental, and social challenges of each crop. For young pepper farmers, this means that sustainable production practices are not just ethically satisfying but economically rewarding, providing access to premium markets and price premiums.
The collaboration between WWF-Malaysia and the Malaysian Pepper Board in the Ulu Sungai Menyang landscape demonstrates how sustainability training is being delivered directly to rural communities, including young farmers. The training, which involved participants from a wide age group ranging from mid-20s to late 60s, introduced best practices in sustainable pepper farming to protect forest and river health while ensuring long-term economic benefits. Participants provided positive feedback, noting that the combination of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience gave them greater confidence in managing their pepper farms effectively. This integrated approach, combining sustainability with technical skills training in machinery maintenance, ensures that young farmers are equipped not only to cultivate pepper responsibly but to sustain their agricultural activities without disruptions caused by equipment failures.
Optimising Revenue and Building Long-Term Prosperity
For young people considering pepper farming as a career, the ultimate measure of viability is the income potential and long-term prosperity that the sector can offer. The evidence is increasingly compelling that modern pepper farming, when combined with the right technology, financial support, and market access, can provide a pathway to middle-class income and beyond.
The direct yield improvements enabled by precision agriculture provide the foundation for enhanced revenue. IoT-enabled fertigation’s demonstrated potential to double yields from 2 to 4 kilogrammes of pepper berries per vine represents a 100 per cent increase in revenue per vine. When combined with the input efficiency gains from precision agriculture, which can cut input waste by 40 to 60 per cent in various agricultural contexts, the economic equation for young farmers becomes increasingly attractive. International research confirms that digital adoption enhances farmer income by 20 to 35 per cent, mainly through improved market connectivity and data-driven decision-making.
The government’s strategic investments in downstream processing and market access further enhance revenue potential for young agropreneurs. The Premium Pepper Production Programme, with its RM3 million allocation for the period 2022 to 2025, specifically targets the cultivation of high-quality premium pepper for niche markets. The Sarawak Pepper Scale Up Project, a collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia, provides farmers with solar-powered white pepper drying houses, enabling them to produce higher-value white pepper products rather than selling raw peppercorns at lower prices. These initiatives create opportunities for young entrepreneurs to capture more value from their production by moving beyond commodity pepper into branded, value-added products.
Senator Roderick Wong Siew Lead has emphasised the importance of cooperation between the Sarawak State Government and the Federal Government in expanding export markets for products such as pineapple, pepper, bananas, and tropical fruits, which hold strong potential in international markets. With wider exports, farmers’ incomes will rise, and local farms will be better regulated in terms of hygiene and food safety standards in accordance with international benchmarks. For young pepper farmers, this expanding global market access represents a pathway to scale their operations and compete on an international stage.
Overcoming Persistent Challenges and Changing Perceptions
Despite the significant progress and opportunities, substantial challenges remain in attracting and retaining young people in pepper farming. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security has acknowledged that the ministry remains vigilant against factors that could slow momentum, including the long-standing perception of agriculture as a 3D (dirty, dangerous, and difficult) industry as well as the limited adoption of modern technology. These perceptual barriers are deeply entrenched and require sustained effort to overcome.
Research on youth agropreneurs has identified a number of specific challenges that must be addressed. These include the high cost of agricultural inputs, lack of market access and weak distribution channels, low adoption of modern technology, issues related to government assistance and implementing agencies, inadequate infrastructure and facilities, lack of capital and resources, climate change and natural causes, and lack of knowledge and skills in agriculture. Each of these barriers requires targeted interventions to ensure that young people who enter the sector are not discouraged by obstacles that could be mitigated through better policy and support.
The issue of counterfeit fertilisers represents a particularly insidious challenge. Reports from the Consumer Association have found that over 30 per cent of farmers’ complaints are related to fake fertilisers, which not only reduce crop yields but also risk contaminating soil and water sources, as well as compromising food quality. For young farmers just establishing their operations, falling victim to counterfeit inputs could be financially devastating and could permanently discourage continued participation in the sector. Stricter enforcement measures, including regular laboratory testing and integrated operations between relevant government agencies, are essential to protect young agropreneurs from these predatory practices.
The education system also plays a critical role in shaping youth perceptions of agriculture. Based on a recent study, only 4 per cent of Sarawak Agriculture Institute graduates become agricultural entrepreneurs, indicating a significant gap between agricultural education and entrepreneurial outcomes. The department has responded by creating programmes and activities to increase the interest of graduates to venture into agricultural entrepreneurship, including the provision of assistance for project development and advisory services. Bridging this gap between education and entrepreneurship is essential to converting trained agricultural graduates into active participants in the pepper industry.
A Future Defined by Youth-Led Innovation
The transformation of Sarawak’s pepper industry is fundamentally a story about generational change. As the farmers who have sustained this industry for decades approach retirement, a new generation is being equipped with the tools, knowledge, and financial support to carry the legacy forward into a technology-driven future. This transition is not merely about replacing retiring farmers but about fundamentally reimagining what pepper farming can be: a data-driven, technology-enabled, commercially sophisticated enterprise that offers young Sarawakians a pathway to prosperity and professional fulfilment.
The convergence of youth-centric policies, smart farming technologies, and sustainable practices creates a powerful foundation for this transformation. The Young Agropreneur Programme and Agropreneur NextGen provide the financial scaffolding. The Sarawak Agriculture Institute and SMART programmes provide the educational foundation. The suite of precision agriculture tools, from LadaGo and Dr. LADA to IoT sensors and hyperspectral imaging drones, provide the technological means to achieve productivity and efficiency that were unimaginable to previous generations. And the Premier’s unwavering vision, backed by substantial state investment, provides the political commitment and strategic direction to sustain this transformation over the long term.
For a young Sarawakian considering their future, the pepper industry now offers a compelling proposition: the opportunity to build a business that leverages cutting-edge technology, contributes to environmental sustainability, connects to global markets, and generates income that rivals or exceeds traditional urban professions. The 843 young agropreneurs who received grants in 2025, and the thousands more who will follow them in the years ahead, represent the vanguard of this new agricultural economy. They are proving that agriculture is no longer a “poor man’s job with a cangkul and a difficult life” but a profession of knowledge, skill, and opportunity.
The future of Sarawak pepper rests in the hands of its youth. With the foundations now firmly in place, that future looks increasingly bright. The King of Spices will continue to reign, not as a relic of a bygone era but as a beacon of what is possible when tradition embraces technology and when a new generation claims its rightful place as stewards of Sarawak’s agricultural heritage and architects of its agricultural future.
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