Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s agriculture sector will continue strengthening food security while embracing innovation and technology to improve productivity and support economic growth.
Deputy Permanent Secretary (Management Services) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry (Maffi) Maria David Edick
(pic), said the sector contributes 13.9 per cent, or RM12.34 billion, to Sabah’s gross domestic product.
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“Agriculture remains one of the State’s key economic pillars while carrying the additional responsibility of ensuring adequate food supplies for Sabah and contributing to national food security,” she said this during a forum session held here, recently.
Maria emphasised that Sabah has achieved self-sufficiency in several commodities, including eggs, chicken, fruits and vegetables, but acknowledged that rice production remains a major challenge.
She noted that the State’s current rice self-sufficiency rate stands at only 19.53 per cent, with the ministry targeting 40 per cent by 2030.
The strategy includes rehabilitating abandoned padi fields, expanding cultivation, increasing mechanisation and adopting smart agriculture technologies such as drones, geographic information systems, artificial intelligence and digital monitoring.
Maria said the ministry is also prioritising strategic crops including grain corn, coconut, coffee, avocado, pineapple and selected fruits to reduce import dependence and increase agricultural output.
“Expanding grain corn cultivation is particularly important as Sabah continues to rely heavily on imported animal feed, contributing to higher production costs for poultry and eggs.
“Maffi is also developing a food export hub to help local producers access international markets while increasing the value of Sabah’s agricultural products,” she added.
In the fisheries sector, she said efforts are focused on expanding aquaculture, marine fish exports and mariculture under the State’s blue economy agenda, supported by improvements to fisheries infrastructure.
Maria said Maffi is also promoting stronger collaboration with private investors and other government agencies, including partnerships in agro-tourism, technology transfer and investment to create better income opportunities for farmers, fishermen and agri-entrepreneurs.
She further emphasised that collaboration, innovation and sustainable resource management will be essential in ensuring agriculture continues contributing to Sabah’s long-term economic development while strengthening food security.
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