Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s rice supply is sufficient to last up to nine months despite recent reports of shortages in several districts, State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said.
Jamawi said existing rice stockpiles in the state remain at a safe level and are capable of meeting the needs of the population.
He explained that the situation becomes even more stable when stockpiles are combined with commercial supplies, wholesaler inventories and locally produced rice.
“If combined with commercial stocks, wholesaler stocks and local rice supply, the total rice supply in Sabah can last up to nine months,” he said in a statement today.
He was responding to reports of rice shortages that were said to have occurred in several districts in the state.
Jamawi said his ministry had contacted Bernas Sabah, which manages and distributes rice supply in the state, to clarify the situation.
According to him, Bernas confirmed that the overall supply remains sufficient and that shortages reported in certain districts are only temporary.
“Rice supply for districts experiencing shortages is currently being delivered by suppliers appointed by Bernas,” he said.
Jamawi urged the public not to panic, noting that the government continues to closely monitor the supply of essential food items in the state.
At the same time, he said the ministry has been taking proactive steps to increase paddy and rice production in Sabah.
Engagement sessions were recently held in the Terusan Sapi rice granary area and in Kota Belud to identify measures to improve paddy output and address issues affecting production.
Jamawi said the government has also received an allocation commitment from the Ministry of Economy to open an additional 2,000 hectares of idle paddy fields in several districts including Kota Belud, Terusan Sapi, Telupid, Tambunan, Keningau and Tenom.
Monitoring has also been carried out through site visits involving Jamawi and relevant officers to assess paddy fields and irrigation systems suitable for rice granary development.
The initiative aims to increase Sabah’s rice self-sufficiency level in the future.
However, Jamawi acknowledged that Sabah still relies on rice imports to meet current demand.
“Dependence on imports cannot be avoided as the situation has existed for a long time, but the government will continue ensuring rice supply in Sabah remains stable and sufficient for the people,” he said.
