Kuala Lumpur: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) received an additional allocation of RM50 million from the Ministry of Finance for the purpose of upgrading roads in agricultural areas.
Its Deputy Minister, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, told the Dewan Rakyat that RM20 million was allocated by the KPKM for the purpose.
Of that amount, he said RM15.5 million was allocated to Sabah to maintain and upgrade agricultural roads that cover inside and outside the granary areas.
“Tuaran is not included in the paddy granary area in the State. The granary area in Sabah is in Kota Belud with an area of 8,500 hectares,” he said when answering a question from Tuaran Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Panglima Madius Tangau in the Dewan Rakyat, recently.
Arthur said based on information from the Sabah Drainage and Irrigation Department, Tuaran Parliamentary area has 10.02 kilometres of agricultural roads including drainage scheme areas.
He said in 2024, work on upgrading agricultural roads along 3.12 kilometers had been carried out in Kampung Minangkob, Kiulu and Kampung Ranau-Ranau Rugading, Kiulu with a total cost of RM334,000.
Arthur said agricultural infrastructure and drainage facilities including agricultural roads are an important aspect in the development planning of KPKM.