Third Agricultural Policy to boost food security
SANDAKAN: The Third Sabah Agricultural Policy (DPNS) for 2017-2020 focuses on the optimum use of agricultural production resources as a contribution to the state development and economic growth.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin said the implementation of the Third DPNS was the effort of the Sabah state government against being left behind in line with Vision 2020 and the government transformation programme in the agricultural industry.
Yahya, who is also State Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, said the Third DPNS, which was implemented this year, was formulated based on the developments and achievements via the First and Second DPNS.
He said the policy outlined three strategic goals, namely boosting the level of food security and production income, strengthening productivity growth and competitiveness of the agricultural industry and maintaining sustainable agriculture.
This was aimed at boosting the achievement of production growth rate of at least three per cent of subsistence level each year for food crops, livestock and fisheries, he said.
“It is also for raising the average income of farmers or producers to RM4,000 a month for every household,” he said at the closing of the 2017 Sandakan Polytechnic Biotechnology and Agro Food Festival here yesterday.
His text of speech was read by Sabah Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry principal assistant secretary Balasius Dausa.
Yahya said the approach was taken as a step to tackle issues and challenges in the agricultural sector, among others the need for infrastructure and basic facility at all food production and main crop areas.