Kaamatan also time to reflect on food security
Published on: Saturday, May 04, 2024
By: Clarence Dol
Dr Jeffrey (middle) harvesting rice as a gimmick for the launch of the Kaamatan Festival.
RANAU: The Kaamatan Festival is a reminder to all parties to work harder to increase success and further preserve food security in Sabah, said Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor.
He said, the theme “Kaamatan Beyond Food Security”, coincided with the true objective and spirit of Kaamatan.
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“It is not only intended to strengthen friendship and unity among people of multiple races and religions, but on the contrary also to express gratitude for a good harvest.
“Thus, in the context of food security, the State Government through the Sabah Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry (Maffi) continues to commit to the efforts of increasing the level of subsistence and self-sufficiency in agricultural products, especially rice, to strengthen food security in Sabah,” he said.
Hajiji, Maffi has created a top management committee at the Ministry level to discuss and deal with issues related to food security.
Sabah currently only reaches a self-sufficiency level of 20.8 per cent.
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He added that the uncertain weather conditions have a great impact on agricultural products, therefore various measures have been taken to strengthen food security in this state.
“Therefore, on April 17 recently, the State Cabinet has agreed to revive the Sabah Padi and Rice Board as part of the Food Safety and Production Initiative in the state.
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“It is also one of the government’s efforts to increase the level of self-sufficiency, especially on the rice issue. “The move is important as Sabah has to import about 70 percent of the State’s rice requirements,” he said.
The State Cabinet had applied for approval for the establishment of this Board and it was gazetted based on Section 3 of the Agricultural Revenue Board Enactment 1991.
Hajiji’s speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister and Maffi Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan at the Kaamatan Festival celebration at the Ranau Community Hall.
Apart from re-establishing the Sabah Rice and Rice Board, the provision of incentives for the ploughing of paddy fields with an allocation of RM18 million is among other initiatives to be implemented in the 2024 Budget.
“In addition, rehabilitation of abandoned land, development of rice dryland, increasing the number of plowing and harvesting machines, providing fertilizer at the optimal rate and providing subsidies are also among the measures that the government will take,” he said.
He hoped players in the agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries sectors would be able to continue to increase their productions and provide sufficient food supply to the people of Sabah.
Hajiji also said the Kaamatan is also a helps build bridges between different ethnic communities.
“With its world-class natural beauty and the uniqueness of its multi-racial and cultural cultures, Sabah has become a destination of choice for tourists from all over the world,” he said, adding now is the time to further intensify the Tourism industry which was affected by the Covid 19 Pandemic for two years since 2020.
Hajiji said there are still voices belittling and blaming any noble effort of the government.
“I am sure the people of Sabah who are now more mature will judge what is glass and what is diamond. Don’t be influenced by politicians who only know how to incite and destroy harmony between races.
Present were, Huguan Siou Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Deputy Chief Minister II, Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, Sabah Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister, Datuk James Ratib, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister and Paginatan Assemblyman Datuk Abidin Madingkir, Ranau Member of Parliament Datuk Jonathan Yasin, Assistant Ministers, District Officer Tinus Manggam and others.
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