Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is intensifying its food security agenda with a series of major initiatives in paddy production, agricultural biotechnology and agro-marketing next year.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the Sabah Rice and Paddy Board (LPBS), which was re-established in 2024, is being strengthened to position the State as a sustainable and competitive producer of paddy and rice, with a target of achieving 60 per cent Self-Sufficiency Level (SSL) by 2030.
“A total of RM3 million is allocated to LPBS for operational expenditure and RM15 million is provided for the acquisition of paddy ploughing and harvesting machinery,” he said when tabling the Sabah Budget 2026 during the State Legislative Assembly sitting, Friday.
Masidi said the Sabah Paddy Planting Revolution Programme will be rolled out in Papar, Keningau, Tambunan, Kota Belud, Tuaran and Kota Marudu, focusing on restoring abandoned paddy fields, supplying modern machinery, improving drainage and irrigation systems and strengthening downstream management.
He said these efforts are aimed at making Sabah’s paddy sector more efficient and sustainable, increasing rice SSL, reducing import dependency and improving farmers’ income and wellbeing.
The State will also boost its agricultural research capacity through the establishment of the Sabah Agricultural Biotechnology Centre (SABTeC) at Agriculture Research Centre (ARC) in Tuaran under the Sabah Agriculture Department.
“SABTeC will serve as a specialised research hub equipped with molecular biology and bioinformatics labs, tissue culture facilities and a transgenic plant greenhouse,” said Masidi.
“It will support high-impact research, including high-yield and disease-resistant crop varieties, and utilise DNA marker technology to identify plant varieties, pests and diseases.”
To improve farmers’ economic wellbeing and strengthen market access, Masidi said the Rural Development Corporation (KPD) will upgrade agricultural produce marketing through 10 Agricultural Collection Centres across several districts, including Beaufort, Keningau, Kota Marudu, Nabawan, Tenom, Tambunan and Penampang.
“RM1 million is allocated to ensure these centres operate more effectively,” he said.
These initiatives form part of a wider RM559.85 million allocation for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry and its agencies in 2026, aimed at strengthening Sabah’s food security and Self-Sufficiency Ratio (SSR).
Of this amount, RM75.75 million is set aside for operational support and direct assistance to farmers, fishermen and livestock breeders.
The Agriculture Department, as the lead agency for the Crop Sub-Sector, is allocated RM171.36 million in 2026, including RM62.40 million for development. Under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), the department has been approved 108 projects – one continuation and 107 new – with a total ceiling of RM323.91 million. These cover research, human capital development, crop expansion, services and agro-tourism.
Among key crop development projects next year is the establishment of Permanent Food Production Zones across 15 parks covering 595 hectares, expected to produce 1,494.5 metric tonnes of vegetables and fruits valued at RM4.32 million.
The Rural Development Corporation (KPD) will implement 21 development projects under 13MP and is allocated RM14.13 million for operations and RM6.94 million for 15 new development initiatives.
Masidi said the Contract Farming Programme – particularly broiler chicken projects involving youth – will continue as a core strategy to raise production and participants’ income.
