TAMBUNAN: Deputy Chief Minister I, Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, said it may be necessary to incentivise farmers to raise padi production, especially in the district, so that there is basis for celebrating the Kaamatan (harvest) Festival.

 “We need to have a competition in the production of increased rice yields from year to year between mukims and farmers by taking into account the number of tonnes of productivity per hectare,” he said, after the Appreciation ceremony in conjunction with the Kaamatan and Hari Raya at the community hall.

Jeffrey, who is also State Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, said he was visited by a group from Indonesia recently who successfully produced 15-17 tons per hectare.