Sarawak is targeting to produce 240,000 tonnes of padi by 2030 to ensure food security.
To achieve this goal, the state has identified several areas for padi cultivation which include Meradong, Lawas, Limbang and Kuching.
“We have asked Unimas (University Malaysia Sarawak) to study the mixture of hybrid seeds from China with our padi seeds and planting system to examine the suitability of the seeds.
“This may increase production from one tonne per hectare to nine tonnes per hectare, which is a nine-fold increase,” Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said to the media at the Harvesting and Inauguration Ceremony of the Onemas Agriculture Sdn Bhd Factory in Bintagor.
The increase in rice production in this region, he said, was expected to have a positive impact in terms of food security, exports and production of downstream products.
He said the collaboration between various parties such as Unimas and Onemas Sdn Bhd would increase padi production, thus reducing dependence on imported rice from countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and India.
With regards to Meradong, Abang Johari said the area’s peat soil was suitable for rice cultivation and that the government would provide assistance in terms of irrigation.
“The community here has been involved in rice cultivation activities for a long time.
“We intend to produce more rice with help from the private sector.
“We will study the policy that will be managed and monitored by Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom (Sarawak Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister) to encourage smallholders to plant rice and the government will buy the rice produced,” said Abang Johari.
