KOTA BELUD: The Sabah Land Development Board (SLDB) has officially launched the “MEKAR by SLDB” local rice mill in Kampung Timbang Dayang, here, marking a significant step towards strengthening Sabah’s rice industry and improving food security in the state.
SLDB General Manager Datuk Syaheddrul R Joddari said the new mill will play a key role in reviving idle paddy land while ensuring better returns for local farmers.
He said about 540 acres of previously abandoned paddy fields have already been brought back into cultivation, and with the operation of the new mill, SLDB is targeting to expand the rehabilitation programme to 1,000 acres in the Tuaran and Kota Belud districts.
“The mill completes the production chain, from cultivation to processing. This means better efficiency, more stable income for farmers and less reliance on rice from outside Sabah,” he said at the launching ceremony, on Monday.
According to him, the facility will process harvests from SLDB’s paddy projects in Tuaran, Papar and Kota Belud, involving 238 participating farmers and covering a total cultivated area of 540 acres. These projects are expected to yield about 1,100 metric tonnes of paddy per season.
In addition to SLDB projects, the mill will also purchase paddy from local farmers in Kota Belud, providing them with a nearby and reliable processing outlet. The rice will be marketed under the MEKAR by SLDB brand, contributing to a more stable local rice supply.
The mill is equipped with a modern processing system capable of handling up to 15 tonnes of paddy per day. Guests at the ceremony were given a tour of the facility and briefed on its operations.
The establishment of the MEKAR by SLDB rice mill reflects ongoing efforts to uplift rural communities through sustainable and competitive agricultural development, while reinforcing Sabah’s long-term food security.
