KUCHING: The Borneo states have a wealth of diverse paddy and rice varieties that can help uplift the life of rural farmers.
Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) chairman Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said the unique and exotic rice varieties in Sarawak and Sabah can also increase rice production and promote the industry.
“Given the vast geographical expanse of Sabah and Sarawak, it is not unexpected that these regions boast a wealth of biodiversity characterised by a diverse array of plant and animal life.
“Looking at the special rice varieties; among others there are the Adan rice, Bario rice, Keladi rice, and Bajong rice where each of them is unique and native to Borneo,” he said.
He was speaking during the ‘KRI Report Launch: The Paddy and Rice Industry of Sabah and Sarawak – Status and Potential’ in Kuala Lumpur today (Jan 31).
To further push the potential of specialty rice of the Borneo states, Nor Mohamed said KRI has conducted research and produced a report on the rice and paddy industry in Sarawak, hoping it will serve as a catalyst for meaningful advancement in the nation’s paddy and rice industry, including an increase in rice production and enhanced economic prospects for rural farmers.
“Today, we are presenting policy proposals which underscore the significance and the distinctiveness of the paddy and rice industry in Sarawak and Sabah.
“The proposal will also outline strategies for the industry’s growth and development in alignment with the second strategy of the National Agro-Food Policy 2.0.
“It will certainly be beneficial to explore all options of improving production, including the potential of rural specialty rice varieties as a means to assist in achieving that objective, which is to improve self-sufficiency of rice production in Sarawak and Sabah,” he said.
Nor Mohamed said achieving rice self-sufficiency is not the only goal, but improving the income of farmers through sustainable and good agricultural practices must also be given priority.
“Looking at the rural-urban divide, the rural population in Sarawak and Sabah is still significantly less compared to the national median household income.
“In 2019, the median household gross income for rural households in Sabah was RM3,172, and for Sarawak it was about RM3,195, a significant difference between the national average median income for Malaysian households in the peninsular is RM5,873.
“The development of the specialty rice segment has the potential to reduce this income gap by providing additional means, particularly for rural farmers to increase their income and subsequently their food security status,” he said.
In addition to enhancing farmers’ income, he said, the expansion of the industry will also promote the prosperity of micro and small enterprises, social enterprises, and the non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
“The farmers’ role in this process is to cultivate the rice, while enterprises play a vital role in effectively marketing the products, making them more appealing to the general market, ensuring fair trading practices for the farmers as well as introducing good cultural practices and sustainability.”
He said the agricultural sector’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021 was at 7.1 per cent.
“However, it is believed that the development and expansion of niche segments within the industry can drive growth and can increase the sector’s overall contribution to the state and the country’s economy,” he said.
