Kota Belud farmers happy with increased rice harvest under the Smart SBB programme
Published on: Thursday, December 29, 2022
Bernas representatives and the Kota Belud farmers.
KOTA BELUD: A group of 40 farmers in Kampung Jawi-Jawi here welcomed the end of 2022 with a smile when their rice harvest increased by more than 60 per cent.The farmers under the Bernas Large-Scale Smart Paddy (Smart SBB) programme reached their target when their rice harvest for the first season in Block 3 and 4, Kampung Jawi-Jawi recorded an increase from 2.60 metric tonnes to 4.15 metric tonnes per hectare.
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The Smart SBB programme for the area’s first season of 2022 started on May 12, 2022, which is the result of Bernas’ joint venture with the Sabah Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Other government agencies involved are the Kota Belud Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA), the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Regional Farmers Organisation and the Sabah Agriculture Department, among others.
Kampung Jawi-Jawi Smart SBB Supervisor Rajumin Jamrin said the programme participants expressed happiness and gratitude for the actual yield that exceeded the set target of four metric tonnes per hectare.
“The 42.34-hectare paddy field has been planted with the TR8 rice variety. The rice harvesting process started on Sept 5, 2022 with a total net yield of around 176 metric tonnes or an average yield of around 4.15 metric tonnes per hectare,” said Rajumin Jamrin, who is the Jawi-Jawi Block Chief.
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According to Rajumin, the rice farmers were initially less confident in the Smart SBB programme. But after trying it and seeing the results, many people started showing interest in participating in this programme.
“Now that they have entered the second season, they have voluntarily started following the planting methods recommended by Bernas and the agencies involved.
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“In addition, the facilities for ploughing and harvesting machinery, which used to be difficult to obtain in this area, have now been supplied by Bernas.
“It has provided comfort to the rice farmers while saving their time and energy. All this will definitely be achieved if the programme participants have discipline and continuous effort, God willing,” he said.
One young participant, Hisham Stu, who worked in rice fields for the first time, was very satisfied with the returns he received.
“Before this, I got a net return from the rice field harvest of around RM2,000 per season. Alhamdulillah, after participating in Smart SBB it increased to RM6,000.
“In addition, the work that used to be heavy and dangerous has now become easier, planned and safer with technology such as drones for fertilising and poisoning weeds.
“Guidance from Bernas and other agencies helped us a lot to understand how to grow rice more efficiently,” he added.
This achievement apparently allows the rice farmers to pay back their operating costs, in addition to enjoying surplus income.
Another Smart SBB participant Duli Okoi said he felt very satisfied with the results and income he got for this season.
“Adherence to an organised farm work schedule and integrated farm management activities have yielded significant results.
“To the rice farmers in Kampung Jawi-Jawi who have not yet participated in the Smart SSB programme, join us in the coming seasons.”
Smart SBB was first introduced at the beginning of 2021 and is one of the initiatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) to increase the country’s rice Self-Sufficiency Level (SSL) rate to 75 per cent by 2025 or before the end of the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12).
Based on the achievements so far, this programme appears to be on the right track in guiding the rice farmers and driving changes towards the development of the local rice and paddy sector.
So far, Bernas is planning to develop 127 hectares of land with 86 participants in Kota Belud, Sabah. The programme will be expanded in the future so that it can benefit more rice farmers.
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