Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said the Federal and State governments have agreed to reopen 2,000 hectares of idle padi fields in Kota Belud, Terusan Sapi and Tenom.
“This is part of a push to reduce the State’s dependence on imported rice,” Chan said, after officiating the Jualan Agro Madani Mega Kota Kinabalu at Lintasan Deasoka.
Chan said the Government’s plan to revive abandoned paddy fields is driven by the reality that Sabah remains one of the states most heavily reliant on rice imports.
“I wanted to see it with my own eyes … the actual condition in Kota Belud, Pitas and Terusan Sapi. I feel there is still much we can do to improve Sabah’s food self-sufficiency,” he said.
Chan said the itinerary had taken him from Kota Kinabalu to Kota Belud, then to Kota Marudu where he stayed overnight, before travelling to Pitas the following day and on to Terusan Sapi, where he spent a second night before returning to Kota Kinabalu Saturday morning.
He said Kota Belud has long been earmarked for the role of Sabah’s paddy granary, but said the potential extended beyond that district.
In Pitas, padi cultivation under the supervision of the Lembaga Pertubuhan Peladang through its Padi Estate Mechanisation programme had doubled yields from previous levels to six tonnes per hectare following proper mechanisation.
“One issue often raised is the shortage of machinery, tractors and harvesters. We have received wish lists from local stakeholders and, as part of the Federal Government, we intend to address them,” he said.
At Terusan Sapi, where the Korporasi Pembangunan Desa owns the land and a private company operates in a joint venture arrangement, Chan said the critical bottleneck was drainage and irrigation, resources beyond the capacity of either the State Government or the private operator to address alone.
He said the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Economy, had approved in principle RM51 million to upgrade the irrigation and drainage system in Terusan Sapi, though he acknowledged the allocation might still fall short of what was required and would seek additional funding.
“Whether it is the Federal Government or the State Government, we must go to the field together, study the ground and identify where we can complement each other,” he said, pointing out the need for a whole-of-government approach that cuts across Federal agencies, State agencies and multiple ministries.
Chan said Sabah is uniquely positioned among Malaysian states to expand its agricultural output, citing its fertile land, year-round rainfall and rich biodiversity.
In addition to padi, he noted the State’s strong potential in maize, tropical fruits and premium avocados, which were already attracting demand in Singapore, Hong Kong and parts of the Middle East.
