KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government launched the State’s first agriculture blueprint for the next 10 years, Tuesday, which aims to double the sector’s contribution to the State’s GDP to 40 per cent.
Agriculture is the second largest contributor to the State’s GDP with an average contribution of 24 per cent annually at present.
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The blueprint outlined efforts to increase productivity, quality and quantity of the State agriculture sector encompassing crop, fishery and livestock as well as ensuring agriculture industry players becoming more competitive, in line with the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0).
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said the Sabah Agriculture Development Plan (2021-2030) aims to attract public participation, especially among graduates, in the agriculture and fisheries sectors while reducing imports of such goods.
“Developing the agriculture sector to cater to the increasing population and demand will not only create spillovers but also expand job opportunities for youths.
“I am confident that not only is it possible to contribute up to 40 per cent to the State’s income, but also the spillover effects will be tremendous and generate more opportunities in many other sectors, including labour, logistics and transportation, marketing and food and beverage.
“This in turn will contribute to the State’s GDP,” he said after launching the blueprint at the State Administrative Building, here.
Shafie said the State could no longer just rely on the timber, oil and gas and tourism sectors.
“We need to diversify our economic activities to cushion us from any major economic downturn,” he said.
Noting the current trends towards healthy living and demand for fresh foods worldwide, Shafie said Sabah was also well poised to tap into this need as it was strategically placed in the region where due to its proximity Sabah could export its agricultural produce.
“The focus will be on crops such as Musang King durian, coconut, honey pineapple, pomelo, mushrooms, cabbage and coffee to big ready markets like China and Singapore, for example,” he said.
He also said the blueprint would also focus on research and development and also marketing for the agricultural produce.
“We have to spend money on research and development to help ensure our products are in high demand by the market,” he said.
The targets set out under the blueprint include increasing the revenue in seaweed farming from RM44 million in 2017 to RM1.84 billion in 2030, cage fish farming from RM238 million to RM3.56 billion, fresh milk production from RM1.4 billion to RM7 billion, and padi yield from less than 30pc to 60pc.
Attention will also be paid to dairy farming, bird’s nest, seaweed, reared fish (aquaculture) and shrimp farming.
Shafie said funds for the projects and support programmes will be sourced from the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025).
Also present were State Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Junz Wong and State Rural Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.
Meanwhile, Shafie welcomed Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador’s assurance that their Tiger platoon will help state agencies protect wildlife in the State.
Shafie said such assistance was much needed by Sabah wildlife authorities who lacked the numbers to keep watch over the vast tract of land in the State.
“The Tiger platoon will certainly provide more expertise and capability in our fight against wildlife criminals. We appreciate and welcome the move by the police to assist the State in protecting our wildlife,” he said.
Hamid had said in Tawau on Monday that the General Operations Force’s Tiger platoon unit would be tasked to assist the wildlife and forestry authorities protect Malaysia’s flora and fauna.
He said the platoon would go on patrol, carry out raids and also track down culprits together with the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) and the Sabah Forestry Department.
