Food security critical for Sabah: Junz
Published on: Thursday, April 25, 2024
By: Mohd Izham Bin Hashim
Wong called for greater focus on ensuring a stable food supply for the people of Sabah, especially staple foods such as rice.
Kota Kinabalu: Food security is critical for Sabah to achieve self-sufficiency and build a resilient economy shielded from rising import costs, volatile markets and global uncertainties.
“Sabah must be ready to develop its potential to emerge as Southeast Asia’s net food producer,” said Warisan’s Tanjung Aru Assemblyman Datuk Junz Wong.
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Towards this objective, he called for greater focus on ensuring a stable food supply for the people of Sabah, especially staple foods such as rice.
Junz said only 10 per cent (about 31,274 hectares) of the total 322,600 hectares of suitable land for paddy cultivation were used in 2017, based on data from the Sabah Agriculture Blueprint 2021-2030 launched during the Warisan-led state government.
He commended the recent announcement of the establishment of the Paddy Board, even though it was four years late.
Coincidentally, the Warisan vice president recalled that it was the Warisan government which announced the creation of the Paddy Board on July 7, 2020, aimed at enhancing Sabah’s rice self-sufficiency.
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Turning to corn production, Junz said only 72 hectares had been used as of 2017, prompting him to ask what additional efforts is the Ministry of Agriculture making to continue the programme to increase the State’s rice and corn production?
During the Warisan government, Junz said the “Trusan Sapi Project” was revived under the KPD-led Sabah Agriculture Blueprint, covering 1,600 hectares in the first phase, with a target to produce an average of 15,000 tonnes of paddy per year.
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He said the Trusan Sapi Project has the potential to produce 15,000 tonnes of white rice after processing.
“What is the status of this project now? Is there any plan to expand paddy cultivation projects throughout the State to achieve 100 per cent SSL paddy production for Sabahans?” asked Junz.
He noted the pilot project was intended to demonstrate paddy cultivation is workable, and its success can be used as a role model to open up more areas for paddy cultivation.
“If this plan for paddy cultivation is followed, Sabah can achieve 100 per cent SSL in 10 years by replicating the successful ‘Trusan Sapi Paddy Project’ and implementing it in other areas,” said Junz.
He stressed that the State agricultural sector must be prepared to produce more local produce and reduce its dependence on imports due to rising import costs, volatile markets and the risk of countries banning certain imports.
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