Jeffrey explains why Sawit Kinabalu involving in rice production

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah State Government is collaborating with Sawit Kinabalu following the decision of the Cabinet meeting on Oct 4, 2023 that all government-linked companies (GLCs) allocate part of their land for food production, especially rice.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan said this during his winding up speech at the State Assembly sitting on Wednesday.

“Food security is the main agenda of the country and Sabah.

In connection with that, the Cabinet meeting on Oct 4, 2023 had decided that all GLCs allocate part of their land for food production, especially rice.

Not all GLC plantation areas are suitable for oil palms.

There are also other areas that are more suitable for other crops.

“The State Government has identified Sawit Kinabalu as a GLC that can contribute to the development of food crops based on the area of land, experience in management and the ability to diversify the food crop business.

“Therefore, the strategic collaboration with the GLC will directly increase the area of rice cultivation and reduce the dependence on imported rice,” he said, referring to a 100-acre rice project in Kota Marudu.

According to Jeffrey, the area of Sawit Kinabalu is 86,840 hectares (ha), while the land used for other cultivation including rice is only 542 ha.

According to him, this is only 0.006 per cent of the entire area of Sawit Kinabalu.

“It is also understood that Sawit Kinabalu has identified an area of 500 to 1000 ha that is not productive for pineapple cultivation,” said Jeffrey who is also Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister.

At Tuesday’s debate session, opposition leader Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal had questioned the collaboration, where he believes Sawit Kinabalu should be focusing on oil palm cultivation and go downstream, for palm oil products.

Meanwhile, Lamag assemblyman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin suggested the state government create a contract farming system by giving agricultural seeds to villagers and selling them to the Agriculture Department.

“If every house in the villages planted four or five mango trees, for example, just imagine if many people planted and gathered together, surely the results would be many.

“This will indirectly increase their economy.

“I believe this farming contract is a better system than other systems,” he said.

Jeffrey, who agreed with Bung’s suggestion, said he will be including the proposal into his speech.

In his winding-up speech, Jeffrey also said his ministry through the Sabah Fisheries Department (DOF) is producing quality F1 (First Generation) parent breeds for sea bream and grouper fish species.

He said the production of F1 through the Marine Fish Breeder Development Program is also planning to try breeding milkfish or baulu fish which are categorized as people’s fish.

“The DOF obtains quality broodstock from natural waters.

“Meanwhile, the production of the necessary food and medicines is also done to ensure the health and fertility of the fish parents,” he said.