SRI AMAN: The state government has agreed to provide 1,500 hectares of state land for the use of new technology to cultivate paddy.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this initiative will encourage local farmers to follow the latest techniques in rice cultivation, with the aim of increasing rice production in the country.
Noting that the nation currently imports rice from other countries such as Vietnam and India, he added that with the ringgit depreciating, import prices have gone up.
“This causes the price hike for consumers. As I can see, Malaysia is able to produce its own rice if we are to compare our land size to Vietnam. And now, India limits its rice production.
“Hence, before the other countries also limit their rice production, Malaysia needs to prepare itself. That is why Sarawak has stepped up to use our land to supply rice nationwide by using new technology,” he said.
He said this during a press conference after his visit to agro projects in Sri Aman – paddy granary project briefing at Wisma SADA and to the paddy granary site at Stumbin Plantation & Processing Centre (SPPC) here Sunday.
As Sarawak aims to meet 100 per cent of its local rice demand without relying on external sources, Abang Johari noted that there is a need for a large allocation to upgrade the drainage and irrigation systems in the paddy cultivation areas in the state.
He added that although the federal government had allocated RM173 million for paddy cultivation purposes, it is still not enough.
“Irrigation is very expensive therefore, the state government will also gradually give allocations to paddy cultivation areas for upgrades namely 10,000 hectares each in Southern and Northern Sarawak.
“In the southern area, it includes Simunjan, Gedong, Sri Aman while in the north, 10,000 hectares includes the areas of Limbang and Lawas and part of Bekenu.
“My expectation is that, if we work hard, by 2030, we can produce rice that meets the market’s demand,” he said.
He also stated that Sarawak needs to produce its own rice paddy seeds and hybrid paddy.
“For this, I want to get the data first. Once I have the data from my visit (here), we will formulate our production technology as well as the production that we need for the market demand,” he said.
