Steps to ensure food security in Sabah
Published on: Monday, September 12, 2022
By: Sherell Jeffrey
Jeffrey said as many as 137 initiatives have been outlined for the agricultural sector which is a crucial hub for the development of SMJ.
THE Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and its eight Departments/Agencies have worked hard over the past year to realise the achievement of Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) aspiration which celebrates its first anniversary on March 29, 2022.Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey G. Kitingan said as many as 137 initiatives have been outlined for the agricultural sector which is a crucial hub for the development of SMJ.
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The rest of the interview:
What steps are the Ministry taking to ensure food security in Sabah, especially in essential items like rice, chicken, fish and pork?
The government is carrying out all the strategies necessary to strengthen Sabah’s agricultural sector and ensure that food supplies like rice and milk remain stable. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has developed four major initiatives to increase rice production and achieve a rice self-sufficiency level (SSL) of 60 per cent by 2030.
The four major initiatives are:
- Increasing rice productivity and yield in existing planting areas by using technology, mechanisation and automation, planting rice twice a year (in stages) in accord with the irrigation system development level, using High Yielding Variety (HYV) rice seeds and rehabilitating abandoned paddy fields.
- Upgrading existing irrigation and drainage systems and building a new irrigation and drainage system for an area of 17,805 ha through the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID)
- Intensifying research and development (R&D) activities
- Expanding the physical area of paddy fields. This includes a proposal to develop 11,000 hectares of rice plantations in Felda Lahad Datu
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As for maize, Sabah currently produced 0.01 per cent of its maize needs last year, with only 14 hectares of land dedicated to the crop, yielding 14 MT against a total annual demand of 153,151 MT. The Sabah government is determined to raise maize output by 3.68 per cent in 2025 and 14.88 per cent by 2030.
In terms of milk commodities, Sabah considers itself self-sufficient with a rate of production above 100per cent, producing 8.435 million litres of milk last year, or 115.63 per cent of SSL.
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In addition, the ministry is constructing a green farm in Tongod for the production of hog meat through the Department of Veterinary Services, as well as cultivating stakeholder participation through Good Animal Husbandry Practices (myGAP) and Jawatankuasa Padang Ragut.
The Ministry through the Department of Fisheries Sabah has several initiatives in ensuring food security in Sabah, namely:
- Develop Aquaculture Industrial Zone (ZIA).
- Encourage investors.
- Develop abandoned ponds.
- Provide incentives to develop downstream, hatcheries and high- value species.
- Examine the effectiveness of governance, law and delivery system improvement.
During the SMJ period (2021 – 2025), 11 new varieties or plant clones consisting of one variety of sweet potato, banana, avocado, tarap, corn, coconut, durian and two varieties of rice and other fruits are planned to be produced. What is the progress so far?
In 2021, three commodities were launched on April 8, 2021:
a) Two Durian Varieties (Durian Babagon and Durian Merah QDG1)
b) One Jackfruit Variety (Variety Nangka QJF 1)
c) One Purple Sweet Corn Variety (LSM1)
And two were launched on Dec 19, 2021, which are:
d) One Catimor Coffee Variety (LSC1)
e) One Sabah Banana Variety
In 2022, two commodities were just launched on Aug 20, 2022:
f) One Avocado Variety (QAV3)
g) One Tarap Variety (TRP1)
Another one will be launched in September 2022, which is:
h) One MD2 Pineapple Gold Variety
In 2021, the Ministry through the Department of Agriculture has developed 701 hectares of food crops, namely premium durian crops (154 hectares), MD2 pineapple crops (5 hectares), Sabah banana crops and selected fruits (134 hectares), cash crops (43 hectares), vegetable crops (15 hectares) as well as industrial crops consisting of coffee (100 hectares) and coconuts (250 hectares). What is the latest development?
The achievements of the Crop Commodity Development Program in 2021 are as follows: (see table)
Does the Ministry provide training programmes to build the capacity of young people in the agricultural sector?
a) Sabah Agricultural Institute (IPS), Timbang Menggaris (Kota Belud),
i. Provides agricultural vocational training to youths to become semi-skilled workers in the agriculture sector.
ii. Offers the Malaysian Agricultural Certificate program which is implemented over a period of two years and is equivalent to the Ministry of Education’s Polytechnic Certificate.
b) Agricultural Vocational Training Center (AVTC) Lahad Datu
i. Provides Agricultural Vocational Certificate Course (Level 3) with a study period of one year specifically for youth who are interested in building a career in the oil palm plantation industry.
c) Integrated Agricultural Training Center (IATC) Putatan
ii. Provides training to those who are interested in becoming agricultural entrepreneurs, farmers, or individuals who want to improve their skills and knowledge in the field of agriculture.
iii. Offers two courses which are the Program Sijil Kursus Keusahawanan Pertanian (PSKPB) for the duration of one year and the Kursus Keusahawanan Pertanian (KKP) for the duration of one week.
d) Agricultural Training Centers (PLP) Damai (Kota Marudu), PLP Lagud Sebrang (Tenom) and PLP Ulu Dusun (Sandakan).
i. Offer courses for young and adult farmers to improve knowledge and skills in good agricultural practice techniques in agricultural crop management.
ii. These PLPs provide two courses which are Basic Agricultural Courses for a duration of six months and one week Special Courses involving department project participants.
e) The Sabah Fisheries Department is always committed to helping the youth in the State.
i. The courses offered include marine capture fisheries, marine aquaculture, freshwater aquaculture, hatcheries and downstream for fisheries products.
f) Ko-Nelayan
i. A prototype IoT has been developed at Ko-Nelayan Aquaculture Training College (KATC) to fulfill the monitoring requirements of aquaculture.
ii. A training module has also been developed to transfer IoT technology to aquaculture farmers in Sabah.
iii. An IoT smart aquaculture system will also be developed to design a wireless and smart solution to water quality management in the cage culture of fish at Ko-Nelayan Trayong Eco-Fishing Point in Tuaran in collaboration with the Faculty of Computer and Informatics Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
This system will monitor and control water parameters in the aquaculture system in order to increase production. Monitoring can be done digitally and on smartphones to minimise technical challenges.
What are the efforts implemented by Sabah to continue to be the main exporter of fishery products in Malaysia and contribute to the Balance of Trade?
By 2021 the balance of trade for fishery products was positive with a value of RM625 million. The department of fisheries has a specific strategic plan from 2021 to 2030 to ensure that the balance of trade remains positive. The strategic plan includes:
a) Improving the socioeconomic status of fishermen and fish farmers in Sabah;
b) Advancing the fishing industry as a business sector and trade that is commercial, modern and viable;
c) Increasing fish production from the sea fishing industry and aquaculture in the State of Sabah;
d) Implementing the management of all fisheries resources in the State of Sabah correctly and rationally in order to guarantee a sustainable industry and sustainable resources;
e) Carrying out research work with the aim of improving fishing technology, resource management efforts and aquaculture;
f) Developing the fishing industry including aquaculture in the State of Sabah sustainably.
How much is the gross fish production in Sabah in 2021 compared to 2020. And what is the gross fish production so far this year?
2020 = 401,228.02 metric tonnes with a value of RM1,529.26 million.
2021 = 405,801.31 metric tonnes with a value of RM1,607.86 million.
2022 = 165,924 metric tonnes with a value of RM760.00 million as of June 2022.
How many fishermen and aquaculture operators are under the Department’s responsibility?
There are 30,578 fishermen and 8,672 people involved in aquaculture.
How much does the seafood sector contribute to Sabah in terms of revenue?
Contribution of seafood to Sabah’s revenue collection for 2021:
a) 16,342 export and import licenses in total were issued, bringing in RM370,123.
b) 11,765 licenses for fishing activities were issued, and RM439,209 was collected.
The Sabah Fisheries Department has been empowered to manage the exploration of fishery resources by using vessels of 70GRT and above in waters that exceed 30 nautical miles from the coast of Sabah. What is the impact achieved as a result of the empowerment given?
To maintain effective control and guarantee that fisheries resources in Sabah waters are harvested in a sustainable way, management of fisheries resources, especially offshore fisheries, is essential.
The State Government through the Department of Fisheries (DOF) is now able to carry out and put into practice in extensive detail the conditions that include:
a) ”Input Controls” (limit fishing units, limit gear efficacy and type, closure Areas and Seasons, fishing Zones, control mesh sizes)
b) ”Output Controls” (size limits, rejection of spawning females, catch quotas).
The Sabah Fisheries Director has been delegated authority by the Director General of the Malaysian Fisheries Department under Section 3(4) of the Fisheries Act 1985 (Act 317). With this empowerment, what are the responsibilities given to the Sabah Fisheries Department?
The Sabah Fisheries Department’s responsibilities for implementing the issuance of deep sea fishing permits and licenses include accepting applications, auditing, evaluating, and approving applications until the issuance of permits and licenses for Sabah waters, including applications from Labuan.
How many new deep sea fishing licenses have been issued by the Sabah Government following the delegation of power?
a) Number of deep sea licenses approved = two companies (four licenses).
b) Pending interview = two companies (five licenses)
In line with the vision and mission as a leader in the animal husbandry and veterinary services industry, what efforts has the Department taken to achieve the 28 SMJ Direction initiatives so far?
The following are the steps taken by the department to ensure that SMJ initiatives are achieved:
a) The Departmental Development Action Committee (JTPJ) meeting is held every month to report project progress.
b) Field monitoring by officers
c) Monthly report
What efforts are implemented by the Department for flood mitigation projects?
Flood management is one of the main functions of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS). The implementation of this function is done by preparing and carrying out flood mitigation plans through the following methods:
a) Structural Methods
A structural flood mitigation plan involves the construction and maintenance of infrastructure. Among the works that are usually done are:
i. Improvement of the drainage system.
ii. Realignment of drainage/river.
iii. Development of infrastructure.
- Reservoir
- Urban drainage
- Pump house station
- River tires
- Maintenance of infrastructure.
b) Non-Structural Methods
Flood mitigation plans with non-structural methods focus on the development and implementation of community-based programs. Among the programs implemented are:
i. Watershed management
ii. Educational awareness campaigns
iii. Flood forecasting and early warning systems.
Below are the flood mitigation projects that are being carried out by JPS in Sabah:
- PLSB Sungai Moyog Pakej 1
- PLSB Sungai Moyog Pakej 3
- RTB Lembangan Sungai Gurong-Gurong, Pekan Kota Belud
- RTB Bandar Sierra, Lembangan Sungai Telipok, Kota Kinabalu
- RTB Sungai Tebongon (Kg Teguli), Putatan
- RTB Sungai Tawau, Lembangan Sungai Tawau, Tawau
- RTB Sungai Anip, Lembangan Sungai Anip, Sandakan
- RTB Sungai Pancuran, Lembangan Sungai Sepagaya, Lahad Datu
- RTB Sungai Rampayan, Lembangan Sungai Menggatal, Kota Kinabalu
- RTB Sungai Ketiau, Lembangan Sungai Ketiau, Putatan
- RTB Persekitaran Kawasan Lido, Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu
- RTB Sungai Kedamaian, Tempasuk/Sungai Abai & Sungai Kawang-Kawang, Kota Belud
- RTB Sungai Padas, Lembangan Sungai Padas
- RTB Sungai Damai, Basin 8
- Detailed Design Study for Bandau River Flood Mitigation Plan, Kota Marudu
- Development of the Membakut River Basin Flood Mitigation Master Plan
- Kudat River Basin Flood Mitigation Master Plan Study
Note: RTB – Rancangan Tebatan Banjir (Flood Mitigation Plan)
PLSB – Pembangunan Lembangan Sungai Bersepadu (Integrated River Basin Development)
What are the efforts implemented by Ko-Nelayan for the development of infrastructure and services for basic fishing facilities?
a) Fishery Complexes Ko-Nelayan’s efforts in the development of infrastructure and services for basic fishing facilities are evident in the existence of Fishery Complexes built in Kudat, Lahad Datu, Beluran and Sipitang. These Fishery Complexes provide fish landing and vessel berthing facilities for commercial fishing vessels. These complexes also produce and supply ice blocks to 60 commercial vessels around Sabah, specifically in Kudat, Lahad Datu, Beluran and Sipitang.
Lahad Datu Fishery Complex and Kudat Fishery Complex are also centres for the supply of subsidized diesel to fishing vessels. Ko-Nelayan is planning to build a new Fishery Complex in Kuala Penyu while continuing to manage, maintain and upgrade existing facilities to cater to the needs of the fishing community.
b) Basic Development Assistance Scheme for Fishing Villages
In the five-year development plan, Ko-Nelayan will provide basic fishing infrastructure to at least 25 fishing villages around Sabah.
Priority is given to villages that do not have any fish landing infrastructure or to those whose facilities are in dire need of repairs.
The basic infrastructure provided consists of landing jetties, a sales area, and storage space for fishing gears and/or workspace for the repair of fishing nets.
To date, 143 fishing villages all over Sabah have benefited from this assistance scheme.
What are the efforts implemented by Ko-Nelayan in line with the state government’s digitisation initiative?
a) E-KAN System (Elektronik Komuniti Usahawan Nelayan)
In accordance with the State Government’s digitalisation initiative, Ko-Nelayan has developed e-KAN which is an online marketing platform for active micro-entrepreneurs under Ko-Nelayan’s assistance scheme.
Training programs are carried out to provide skills and assistance to participants to set up their personal virtual shops.
This platform will provide an alternative marketing channel to conventional ones and open up opportunities beyond local sales.
The program hopes to house at least 200 participants on its platform by 2025.
As of August 2022, 14 participants of e-KAN have used the online application through a sales tracking record system, and the total sales recorded recently amounted to RM472,444. Without this system, Ko-Nelayan would not be able to receive this data in real- time.
b) Sistem E-Smart
E-Smart is a project that is nearing completion in collaboration with Agensi Angkasa Malaysia (MYSA) to create a mobile application capable of transforming the lives of artisanal fishermen by increasing their catch and income.
This is accomplished by identifying fish locations using satellite images, and the data is transmitted via a smartphone app.
Ko-Nelayan hopes to successfully transfer this technology to 350 selected artisanal fishermen in the next five years. Candidates will be provided with training and guidance in using the application.
c) IoT (Internet of Things)
- A prototype IoT has been developed at Ko-Nelayan Aquaculture Training College (KATC) to meet aquaculture monitoring requirements.
- A training module has also been developed to transfer IoT technology to aquaculture farmers in Sabah.
- In collaboration with the Faculty of Computer and Informatics, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, an IoT smart aquaculture system will also be developed to design a wireless and smart solution to water quality management in the cage culture of fish at Ko- Nelayan Trayong Eco-Fishing Point. This system will monitor and control water parameters in aquaculture in order to increase output.
- Monitoring can be done digitally and on smartphones to minimize technical challenges.
How different is KPD’s role today from what it was when first set up? What are its core activities today?
a) KPD carries out its activities in accordance with the KPD 1981 enactment namely:
- To improve the economic and social well-being of the rural communities in Sabah, particularly the poor.
- To increase agricultural output and accelerate the development of agro-based industries.
- To promote the development of bumiputra entrepreneurs who are skilled in agriculture and support services.
- To increase the overall net worth of the Corporation.
b) At the beginning of the establishment of KPD, the approach taken by KPD was to develop agricultural land in rural areas by implementing various types of projects or planting various crops and hiring the villagers as workers in KPD projects.
Villagers were involved as workers and received wages from the work.
c) Under the Human Development Program, contract participants are exposed to human development aspects in order to improve their knowledge and social skills through courses and training in the form of structured learning experiences (SLE), workshops and focus group meetings among participants, with KPD acting as facilitator.
The skills include leadership and communication skills, organizational skills, technical and economic skills and spiritual skills.
d) Currently, the core activities implemented under the program are the Poultry Farming Project, the Free-Range Chicken Project (Ayam Kampung), the Mushroom Project, the Honey Bee Farming Project and the Pomelo Cultivation Project.
e) In addition to the Contract Farming Program, KPD has taken a step further by introducing the Agricultural Entrepreneur Program which focuses mainly on the youth, especially graduates from the KPD- OISCA Youth Training Centre, Tenom who are interested in venturing into the field of agriculture.
Under this program, KPD provides infrastructure facilities such as sites for projects as well as equipment and supplies for project implementation. Program participants or entrepreneurs are involved as project owners while all assets and equipment used remain the property of KPD.
Participants will be paid after deducting the operational costs of project implementation.
This program serves as a preparation for each participant as it is limited to a period of two years only, Thereafter, the participants would start their own projects at their respective places and sites.
f) In 2021, as a way to show support for the government’s effort to improve the livelihood of the people, KPD built six agricultural produce collection centres in Beaufort, Kundasang, Kota Marudu, Keningau, Telupid and Lahad Datu. Two of these centres in Kundasang and Kota Marudu are in operation while the other centres are in the completion phase.
The establishment of these centres is an effort by KPD to assist the rural farming community in the marketing of their farm produce, where marketing issues were a problem for them.
g) Since 1989, the Rural Development Corporation (KPD) has also implemented various agricultural-based training courses, especially for youth at the KPD-OISCA Youth Training Centre located in Tenom to assist the government in producing a skilled workforce in agriculture. Training courses implemented include the Mushroom Crop Handling Program, Food Processing Program, Paddy Production Operations Supervision Program, Poultry Farm Operations Program and Crop Production Operations Program.
h) Beginning in 2014, the skills training program adopted the National Occupation Skill Standard (NOSS) curriculum as part of the National Dual Training System Program (SLDN) level 3 certificate level.
Apprentices who complete their training at this centre will be awarded the Malaysian Skills Certificate and they can become entrepreneurs themselves or work as skilled workers in the agricultural sector.
The Ministry has announced that KPD is developing a digital marketing system which is KPD-Smart System as a transaction platform at collection centres. What is the progress so far?
In Kota Marudu, Kundasang, Beaufort, Keningau, Telupid, and Lahad Datu, KPD established six Agricultural Produce Collection Centres (APCC).
Two of them, APCC Kota Marudu and Kundasang, have been completed and are now operational. KPD has created a digital marketing network system called KPD Smart System, which will be used for transactions at all APCCs managed by KPD.
The KPD Smart System was created in collaboration with experts from Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
Phase One, which focuses on data collection for potential APCC suppliers, is now complete. Supplier information, location, products involved, and expected quantity are all collected. The transaction with KPD Smart System is not yet fully integrated at this stage because they are only carried out at the respective APCC (Kundasang and Kota Marudu) and are semi-digital.
In the second phase, KPD is improving the KPD Smart System with the assistance of UMS, which will be fully digitally implemented by connecting the marketing network in an integrated manner between suppliers, APCCs, and customers once all APCCs in six locations are completed and ready to operate.
What efforts are made by LIGS to empower the smallholder sector?
In order to empower and ensure the sustainability of the rubber industry, especially the rubber smallholder sector in Sabah, LIGS will continue to ensure its function to provide a stable and sustainable source of income to smallholders through programs such as the New Planting Programme, Replanting Programme, Additional Economic Activity Programme (AET) and Smallholder Training Programme.
What is the total acreage under rubber in Sabah?
As of Dec 31, 2021, the total area of land planted with rubber is 222,773.30 hectares as follows: (See Table 1)
Is rubber still a viable crop that can improve the lives of rural poor?
Natural rubber is a world commodity that is highly sought after in manufacturing thousands of consumer products, including tires, medical gloves, condoms and belting. As such, the worldwide demand and consumption of rubber remain strong.
In Sabah, most agricultural land owned by rural residents is located in hilly areas and rubber plantations are the most suitable to be planted in those areas. LIGS through new planting and replanting programs will continue to ensure that rural residents are not left out of the benefits.
This programme can reduce the poverty rate because participants who previously had no cash income (zero-based cash income) will get a steady and stable income.
The results of this program will stimulate local economic activity and will further improve the living standards of smallholders.
In order to increase the income of rubber keil farmers, LIGS will continue the Additional Economic Activity Program (AET) this year. What is the progress so far?
In order to increase the income of rubber smallholders, LIGS has continued the additional Economic Activities Program (AET) in 2022 which consists of four activities.
The activities are Pineapple (MD2) Planting program, Ginger Planting program, Sabah Banana planting Program and Tilapia Fish Pond Program.
The number of smallholders involved in the 2022 AET program is as follows: (See Table 2)
Is China still a major buyer and how much?
China is still the main buyer of Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) produced by LIGS.
In 2021, LIGS exported 34,251.84 metric tonnes of SMR to China, which is also equivalent to 75 per cent of the total production.
LIGS also performs rubber purchase services from smallholders. How many districts are involved in this initiative and how many kilograms are collected?
LIGS provides rubber-purchasing services to smallholders in Sabah. Services are given through rubber purchasing stores and farmgate directly to 1,037 kampungs. There are 15 Rubber Purchasing Units throughout Sabah to cater to the needs of about 25,000 active smallholders, below is the summary of rubber purchasing volume for the year 2021. (See Table 3)
This year, Safma has taken steps in line with the SMJ initiative through the implementation of projects to repair and upgrade Ice Factory machinery. What is the progress so far?
The project/projects to repair and upgrade the Ice Factory machinery has/have been completed and started production on April 12, 2022.
Safma also implemented a project to repair the freezer rooms. What is the progress so far?
Work on repairing the freezer rooms was completed on Jan 15, 2022.
In 2022, there are two more Safma initiatives under SMJ that will be started, namely the addition of a landing jetty/wholesale hall and a diesel/water supply jetty and the procurement of fishing vessels. What is the progress so far?
The initiatives for the addition of a landing jetty, wholesale hall and a diesel/water supply jetty are still in the preliminary stage where the process of topography and soil investigation is in progress.
The landing jetty will be put out to tender in January 2023 and is projected to be completed by the end of 2024. Whereas, the procurement of fishing vessels will be subject to re-tendering based on demand and fund allocations.
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