KOTA KINABALU: The State Government is reviving the Sabah Paddy Board in order to increase Sabah’s rice self-sufficiency level (SSL) to 60 per cent by 2030.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the move also aims to reduce the State’s dependency on imported rice.
“Currently, Sabah’s rice SSL is at 22 per cent while 78 per cent of the State’s rice needs are met through imported rice from countries such as China, Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan.
“We hope that with the re-establishment of the Sabah Paddy Board, we will be able to increase the SSL level of Sabah’s rice and thus reduce rice imports,” he said in his opening speech at the 2023 State-level Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen’s Day celebration at Wisma Pertanian, here, Thursday.
His speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister I cum Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry (Maffi) Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
Hajiji said the Sabah Government has established a special State Cabinet committee, led by Maffi, to address the issue of self-sufficiency level (SSL).
He said the problem identified by the special committee was fewer paddy fields due to the development of housing and commercial areas.
“To address the issue, the State Government has explored a new paddy planting area in Trusan Sapi, Beluran covering an area of approximately 809.37 hectares,” he said.
He said the new paddy cultivation area will be developed in an integrated manner by Maffi and its agencies – the Rural Development Corporation (KPD) and the Department of Agriculture – together with the Department of Irrigation and Drainage and the involvement of the private sector and residents as participants.
He also called on farmers, breeders and fishermen to be more alert and ready to accept and make changes in agriculture, including modern farm management.
For the crop sub-sector, Hajiji said, a total of RM115.39 million was allocated to the Department of Agriculture to increase the production of various crops, to generate income for farmers, from RM2,000 to RM4,000 per month.
“The Government’s efforts to help the target B40 group and the hardcore poor will continue through KPD with an allocation of RM20.28 million.
“A total of 2015 participants will receive benefits from the implementation of various livestock breeding and crop cultivation programmes,” he said.
He said a total of RM46.09 million was allocated to the Fisheries Department this year to continue various programmes to guarantee the production of sustainable fishery products to cover the domestic and international markets.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey said the move of certain top producers in Asia, such as India, to ban rice exports, would unlikely cause the price of rice in Sabah to increase.
“This will not necessarily happen as the quantity of our imports has remained the same and our stockpile is still high. We are also working with Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas).
“India, Pakistan, Vietnam and Thailand are among our sources (for rice imports), but since India has banned its rice exports we will find other sources, as importing rice is still cheaper than producing our own.
“We only want to reduce our reliance on imports, that is why the State Government is finding ways to increase Sabah’s rice SSL because it is too low,” he told a press conference.
— Anthea Peter
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