KOTA KINABALU: The State Government has established a special Cabinet committee to look into the State's self-sufficiency level (SSL).
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry (Maffi) would head the special committee.
"I am proud of the persistent efforts of Maffi and the agencies under it as well as the Federal Government agencies that have joined their efforts to increase the SSL production of all types of food in the State.
"Among the issues identified are related to the area of paddy fields that is getting smaller as it has been used as an area for residential development and commercial shops.
"To tackle this issue, the government has explored a new paddy planting area in Trusan Sapi, Beluran District, covering an area of approximately 2,000 acres.
"It was developed by Maffi and its agencies, namely the Rural Development Corporation (KPD), the Agriculture Department, and the Irrigation and Drainage Department, with the involvement of the private sector and the residents of Trusan Sapi as participants in rice planting," he said at the opening of the state-level Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen's Day 2023 at Wisma Pertanian, here, Thursday.
His speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister cum Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey G Kitingan.
Meanwhile, he said, Maffi is now in the midst of re-establishing the Sabah Padi Board to develop the padi and rice industry in the State.
Hajiji said the re-establishment of the Sabah Rice Board is expected to increase the Sabah rice SSL to 60 per cent by 2030.
"Currently, Sabah's rice SSL is 22 per cent, while 78 per cent of the State's rice needs are met through imported rice from countries such as China, Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan.
"We hope that with the revival of the Sabah Padi Board, it is expected that we will be able to increase the SSL level of the State's rice, thus reducing imported rice," he said.
