YEAR

EVENTS / ACTIVITIES

1840s

Mr Hentig attempted to plant cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, vegetables and many exotic plants in Kuching.
Baroness Burdett Coutts at the instruction of the Second Rajah of Sarawak conducted experimental farm at Lundu and experimental garden at Kuop to try new crops. It was terminated in 1877 due to lack of success.

1875

Rajah Charles Brooke introduced Liberica coffee, cocoa and oil palm. No significant success.

1925

A trial station to evaluate introduced plant of economic importance was established at Semongok, 12th mile Penrissen Road

1928

Engagement of first agronomist and the first agricultural chemist

1930s

First oil palm estate tried at Kanowit. The Dura variety used failed because of poor fruit setting

1937

First padi testing station established at Kanowit

1939

First wet padi station established at Rantau Panjang

1950

First 500 seedlings of West African Amelonado cocoa brought into Sarawak

1952

Formal establishment of Research Division

1955

Recruitment of 2 Plant Pathologists, Mr WP Mowart & Mr Paul Holliday to initiate research on pepper foot rot.
First research laboratory located at Batu Lintang

1956

Establishment of a Soils and Rice Research Divisions

1958

Establishment of Soil Survey Division

1959

Mr RO Williams appointed as first Assistant Director of Agriculture Research

1960

First proper trial of oil palm at Danau, Miri Division

1963

Establishment of Kabuloh experimental station for Northern Sarawak

1964

First highland experimental station at Bario

1966

First Peat Research Station at Stapok, Kuching
First trial planting of 5 West Malaysian lowland clones of tea

1967

Official opening of the Agriculture Research Centre, Semongok

1968

First oil palm estate established by Commonwealth Development Corporation (UK) in Miri

1970

First acid sulphate experimental station at Rampangi

1973

First introduction of silkworms rearing into Sarawak

1976

Completion of Block B, Agriculture Research Centre (ARC), Semongok

1982

First tea estate established by Mayang Tea Sdn Bhd at Serian (SALCRA).
Pilot rearing of silkworms at Padawan
Commencement of work on Sago at Sg. Talau Peat Experimental Station

1986

Establishment of first Intergrated Silk Production Centre at Sematan by SEDC
Deployment of 7 Divisional Research Officers to undertake “transfer of technology”.
Establishment of first sago estate by LCDA at Mukah

1987

First riverine gley soils experimental station at Ulu Rembus, Kota Samarahan

1988

Release of new pepper variety (Piper nigrum L.), Semongok Perak

1989

Establishment of Pesticide Residue Laboratory at ARC Semongok

1991

Release of new pepper variety (Piper nigrum L.), Semongok Emas

Completion of Block C, Agriculture Research Centre, Semongok

1997

Release of new chili variety, Cili Tarat
Release of new terung asam variety, Terung Mas
Published for the first time in the world, cDNA library of pepper berry

1998

Introduction of Vegetable Certification Scheme
Release of disease-free Citrus planting material

1999

First pilot production of acacia honey,
Release of new rice variety, Saratani
ISO/IEC G25 Laboratory Accreditation of Chemistry Laboratory

2000

Launching of Expert System, XCROP-Pepper
Release of brinjal variety Terung Unggul

2001

Launching of acacia honey, Madu Asli Sarawak
Launching of rice estate established by Delta Padi Sdn Bhd
1st Open Day, ARC Semongok

2002

ISO/IEC G25 Accreditation updated to ISO/IEC 17025:1999 Accreditation for Chemistry Laboratory
1st Open Day Kabuloh Station

2004

Launching of Bario Rice Certification Scheme

2005

ISO 9001:2000 Accreditation of Pesticide Residue Laboratory

2006

Release of new pepper (Piper nigrum L.) variety, Semongok Aman
ASEAN course on citrus greening disease

2007

Launching of coloured rice
MS ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Accreditation for Chemistry Laboratory

2008

Launching of two (2) dabai clones, Lulong and Laja
Launching of durian nyekak clones

Award of Geographical Indication for Bario Rice by MyIPO

2009

Award of Geographical Indications (GI) for Sarawak Beras Biris and Sarawak Beras Bajong by MyIPO

2010

Award of Geographical Indications (GI) for Sarawak Dabai and Terung Asam Sarawak by MyIPO

2011

Three (3) books on pepper published by Malaysian Pepper Board, contributed by pepper researchers from ARC Semongok

GI certification awarded for Sarawak Dabai and Terung Asam Sarawak

2012

Launching of Key Focus Activity (KFA) to evaluate a system to commercialise agriculture research findings on the dabai supply chain.

Dabai festival in Kapit

Launching of dabai products during MAHA at MAEPS, Serdang, Selangor

2013

Rampangi Integrated Research Station Open Day

Launching of Key Focus Activity (KFA) on promotion of Terung Asam Sarawak as niche product of Sarawak

Weeds, Insects, Micro-organisms Collection Sarawak (WIMICS) Database fully operational

Patentship of dabai oil (DOA Sarawak and UPM Serdang)

GI certification awarded for Durian Nyekak Sarawak and Isau Sarawak

Kumpulan Inovasi Kerja (KIK) QECERS from ARC Semongok won Most Creative Award at the Konvensyen KIK Peringkat Negeri.

2014

ARC Semongok Open Day

KFA on promotion of Terung Asam Sarawak won the State KFA Award.

Kumpulan Inovasi Kerja (KIK) QECERS from ARC Semongok won Gold (3*) award at the Konvensyen Team Excellence MPC peringkat Wilayah and Gold (3*) award at the Konvensyen Team Excellence MPC peringkat Kebangsaan.

GI certification awarded for Sarawak Midin.

2015

ARC Semongok Open Day

KFA on promotion of Terung Asam Sarawak won the State KFA Award.

Launching of terung asam and dabai ice cream products

Kumpulan Inovasi Kerja (KIK) QECERS from ARC Semongok won Silver (2*) award at the International Exposition on Team Excellence (ITEX) in Singapore.

GI certification awarded for Sarawak Tapioca

2016

Launching of SaraChocS products by DOA Sarawak, Malaysian Cocoa Board and Sarawak Institute of Agricultural Scientists (SIAS).