KOTA KINABALU: Sabah targets to reopen more idle padi land to achieve its 30% self-sufficiency target by 2030, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said.
Speaking at the latest memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Sabah Padi and Rice Board (LPBS), Arise Consulting (Sabah) Sdn. Bhd, and ABS Greentech Sdn. Bhd, Jamawi said they were targeting the reopening of 1,000ha.
He said this was the latest MOU signed here and the sixth this year in efforts to strengthen the state’s rice industry.
“I am confident that with this MOU, especially since the company has already implemented rice planting in Seberang Perai, Penang, the technology used there can be transferred to farmers in Sabah.
“If we look at media reports two or three months ago, Penang was among the largest rice producers compared to Sabah. So people asked, why can Penang produce so much rice but Sabah produces less?
“That’s why we are bringing the technology from Penang to Sabah so that our farmers can revive idle paddy fields,” he said after the MOU signing ceremony here on Friday (Aug 21).
Jamawi explained that some of the paddy fields to be redeveloped have been abandoned for up to 10 years, while others have been left idle for at least five to six years.
He said this situation contributed to the decline in Sabah’s rice self-sufficiency as many suitable paddy lands were abandoned by the first, second, and third generations.
“Younger generations no longer cultivate them, possibly due to lack of technology and incentives to attract their interest.
“I believe this MOU with Arise Consulting and ABS Greentech will inspire young people,” he said, adding that the MOU includes technology transfer from the companies to landowners and youth in the area.
The approach to re-open abandoned padi fields combines modern and traditional technologies from India, the Netherlands, and Indonesia and will be adapted to meet Sabah’s soil and climate.
The company is also scouting other districts such as Kota Belud, Keningau, Ranau, and Papar, with Kota Marudu chosen as the starting point due to its large idle land and strong support from landowners and investors.
The long-term target is to develop up to 10,000 hectares of paddy land in Sabah.
Sabah has about 25,000 hectares of paddy fields, but only about half are currently cultivated.
