In Long Busang, a remote village situated in Sarawak's Kapit Division in Malaysia, technology is largely unfamiliar territory. However, civil engineer-turned-agropreneur Cooplay Nyipa Aji introduced the concept of smart farming to the villagers, who showed enthusiasm and curiosity. Long Busang, located 400 kilometers from Sibu with a population primarily from the Kenyah Badeng ethnic group, witnessed an eager response as Cooplay delivered a talk on smart farming during the 'Digital to Long Busang' program, organized by the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) on July 10. The program aimed to empower communities with digital skills and encourage participation in the digital economy.
Cooplay, aged 58 and a pioneer in smart farming in Sarawak, is dedicated to sharing his expertise in modern farming techniques with rural areas. Originally from Saratok near Betong, Cooplay's passion for agriculture is deeply rooted in his family tradition, despite his professional beginnings in civil engineering and work in the oil, gas, and construction sectors. His foray into agriculture started in 2017 when he was chosen by the Sarawak Agriculture Department to be part of the Permanent Park for Food Production (TKPM) project in Rampangi, Kuching, focusing on smart farming.
At a plant house in TKPM, Cooplay employs modern agricultural systems, such as IoT technology and a smart fertigation system, to cultivate chillies and golden melons. His operations, extending over a 21.3 by 30.5 meter plot, demonstrate the efficient use of such technologies, yielding substantial crops.
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