KUCHING: Sarawak and Sabah are out to contribute towards achieving self-sufficiency rate (SSR) in rice production in the country.
Federal Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said official ongoing discussions are expected to yield positive outcomes.
He expressed hope that the two states will be the nation’s second rice bowl in the future.
“If Sarawak has its own rice seeds, that’s fine. If not, we hope they are ready to accept the rice seeds that have been used, namely those produced by MARDI and related agencies.
“The yield, as we observed, has increased, as seen in several areas in Perak, Pulau Pinang, Kedah, and others, exceeding seven7 tonnes per hectare,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
In light of this, Mohamad Sabu said his ministry is actively engaging with agricultural authorities in Sarawak and Sabah, with positive reactions so far on the acceptance of these new seeds.
