Kota Kinabalu: Angkatan Perpaduan Sabah (APS) lauded the decision of the State Government to revive the Sabah Padi Board that will surely give new life to paddy farmers in Sabah.
Its President Datuk Seri Wilfred M. Bumburing said it is vital to have a state body like Sabah Padi Board to oversee paddy cultivation in Sabah following the current level of production in the state at 25 per cent.
He said reviving the Board was asked by Nominated Assemblyman Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee during the recent sitting of the State Legislative Assembly.
“The former Sabah Padi Board (Lembaga Padi Sabah) was set up in 1965 and started operating in 1967. It was closed down in 1981 and the responsibility was passed on to the state agriculture department.
“The old board had not made a significant impact on the development of paddy production in the state. On average per head consumption of rice is 90kg per year.
“With a population of 3.5 million, Sabah needs 315,000 tonnes of rice per year. This means that if we target a 60 per cent sufficiency, Sabah needs to produce locally about 189,000 tons of rice per year,” Bumburing said.
Surely, he said this is a tall call but it is doable with the big land that can be cultivated with rice.
What is important, he said is political will and employing the right people to the work.
Hence, Bumburing said revival of board should comprise representatives from the relevant departments and professionals.
He also suggested that Sabah take control of the import of rice in Sabah and Sabah Padi Board to avoid monopoly by Beras Negara.
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