Kaamatan kicks off with focus on improving Sabah's food self-sufficiency

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s month-long Tadau Kaamatan (harvest festival) celebrations kicked off in Ranau, nestled in the foothills of Mount Kinabalu, on Wednesday.

Themed “Kaamatan, Poingalib Kohimaganon Taakanon” (Kaamatan Beyond Food Security), the colourful celebrations of the Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus communities across the state will showcase traditional dances, music and games, before culminating in the state-level celebration at the Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang on May 30 and 31.

Wednesday's (May 1) launch also began the quest to find the fairest lass from every district in Sabah, including Sabahans living in Sarawak, Penang, Perak, Johor, Klang Valley, Melaka, Labuan and Putrajaya, to compete for the title of this year’s Unduk Ngadau (pageant queen).

The festival was launched with the symbolic cutting of padi stalks and beating of the gong seven times by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

In his speech, Hajiji said the government is taking various initiatives to enhance the self-sufficiency level (SSL) in agricultural products, especially rice, to strengthen food security in the state.

He added that the state government had established a high-level management committee under its Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry to address issues related to food security.

“This is because Sabah currently only has a 22.8% SSL, (and is) still dependent on rice supplies from external sources or imports. At the same time, uncertain weather conditions greatly affect agricultural yields, including in this state.

"Therefore, on April 17, the state cabinet agreed to revive the Sabah Padi Board as part of initiatives to increase production and food security in the state. It is also among the state government's efforts to increase the rice SSL,” said Hajiji.

He added that the allocation of RM18mil for padi field ploughing incentives is one of the initiatives implemented in the state budget for this year.

Other initiatives include the reclamation of idle padi fields, the development of upland rice, an increase in the number of ploughing and transplanting machinery, the provision of fertiliser at optimum rates, and subsidies for paddy sales to all farmers with an allocation of RM5.16mil.

"I also hope that players in the agricultural, livestock and fisheries sectors will continue to increase their output to provide sufficient food supplies to the community, and most importantly, seize all opportunities through various initiatives provided by the state government," he said.

On the celebration, Hajiji said: "Kaamatan not only aims to strengthen unity among people of different races and religions but also to express gratitude for a good harvest."