Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Padi and Rice Board has started going full throttle towards its agricultural self-sufficiency target.
“The Sabah Padi and Rice Board is already moving very actively,” said Deputy Chief Minister cum State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan during a Chinese New Year walkabout in Damai, Luyang, here, Sunday.
“The Rice Board members are taking on expanded roles compared to traditional boards, with each member serving as chairman of the Padi Development Committee in their respective districts.
“We are making sure the production of rice reaches its target,” he said.
The Board, operated from 1965 until its closure in 1981 during the Berjaya administration due to corruption.
It was brought back to life by the Sabah Government in April 2024 with renewed purpose to reduce the State’s dependence on imported rice.
The revival of the Board is expected to help Sabah increase its rice self-sufficiency level (SSL) from 22 per cent to 60 per cent by 2030.
Currently, Sabah imports about 70 per cent of its rice needs from countries like China, Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan.
