Kaamatan to feature biodiversity drive with seed collection
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s annual harvest or “Kaamatan” festival this year will feature the collection of fruits and padi seeds from every district in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the “seed run” activities aimed to promote environmental conservation and biodiversity.
“The seeds will then be presented to the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry for planting and propagation.
“This is a significant event because after enduring a year of Covid-19, Movement Control Orders, job losses and economic downturn, we are grateful we still have our health and fortunate to be alive.
“And like these seeds, we have the opportunity to grow again. On this day, like the seeds, we will come together to celebrate our diversity and have great hope for the future,” said Jeffrey who is also state agriculture and fisheries minister.
Jeffrey, who is the state Kaamatan organising chairman, said the programme would endorse the United Nations’ World Biodiversity Day, which is observed on May 22 to raise understanding and awareness about biodiversity.
He said traditionally, Kaamatan was a thanksgiving celebration of good harvest and the organising committee believed it was vital for the festival return to its roots. As for the celebration, the committee had agreed that the launching ceremony would take place on May 1 in Penampang, while the peacemaking ceremony would be held on May 29 at the Hongkod Koisaan.
“It is in keeping with this year’s theme of ‘Borderless Kaamatan for Peace and Reconciliation’.
“The organising committee has been hard at work to ensure that merrymaking is still possible, while adhering to strict standard operating procedures (SOP) by the Health Ministry,” he said.
He added that while not everybody would be able to make their way to Hongkod this year, they could still celebrate Kaamatan in their own villages and districts.
However, he hoped that with the national immunisation campaign taking place, the situation would change in May and the SOP would be relaxed.