Kota Kinabalu: The lack of a clear blueprint on improvement of rice production in the State for some years now has placed the State’s rice supply at risk in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, Parti Cinta Sabah President Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing, warned.
He said rice production in Sabah had fallen rapidly during the last several years vis a vis the population increase. Sabah’s rice production now stands at 26 per cent of Sabah’s needs.
“This is at critical level. I have voiced this matter for years both in the Assembly and media. I maintained that Sabah is depending more and more on imports of rice.
“If Vietnam and Thailand are stricken by natural disaster, supply of rice in Sabah will be in peril. Now it seems that this has become a reality.”
The former Tuaran MP added the Covid19 epidemic which had a global effect had not spared Sabah.
“Because of the Movement Control Order operations, the people faced difficulty securing food for their families. The government had to intervene in food assistance.
“News that Vietnam is reviewing their export of rice is a worry to Sabah. Even if we have the money if there is no rice for sale. What will the people eat?
“A country like Singapore had no worry because rice made up a small percentage of their diet. For Malaysians and Sabahans, rice is an everyday necessity.”
He said this situation seems to have jolted the consciousness of the state government as the chief minister had admitted that continuous import of rice from Thailand and Vietnam is insecure in as far as food safety for Sabah.”
He asked why is it only now that the State Government is scrambling to develop 10,000 acres in Terusan Sapi.
“How long can this land produce paddy in view of the critical supply situation now. He also mentioned about hill paddy in Long Pasia. It is very clear that the present state government is void of a clear blueprint on improvement of rice production in the short term and long term.”
Wilfred said one of the main reasons for the situation is the declining number of farmers going into rice cultivation.
“This is due to the rising cost of inputs such as ploughing tractors, lack of seedling, declining subsidies and fertiliser assistance.
“There is also declining government expenses in maintaining infrastructures such as irrigation channels, flood mitigation facilities. Without government intervention it would be uneconomical for farmers to plant rice.
“The government also overlooks the increasing acreage of abandoned padi land, especially in the west coast such as Papar and Tuaran.
He said instead of looking for new land, why not redevelop these ready padi lands.
“Instead of spending RM200 million of infrastructure at this critical time why not channel this fund to rice production. Developing a big rice estate is welcome but the traditional padi farmers who own their own land must be helped to be involved in rice production.
“The argument that the farmers cannot continue to cling to subsidies will not hold water in as far as smallholders are concerned. It is a fact that small scale paddy farming is not as profitable as other sectors, but if they are assisted they can collectively help in the production of rice.
“In time of calamities as of now at least many of the rural people have their own rice to feed their families and the government can help them on other basic necessities.”
He said it is high time the Government pull up their socks on this very important matter because the rice security problem would not end with the end of Covid19 epidemic.
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