RANAU: Sabah is intensifying efforts to strengthen the state’s food security through an integrated approach that combines livestock development, household food production and animal health, with the launch of several new initiatives in Ranau on Tuesday.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry (MAFFI), Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, officiated at the Presentation of Grazing Land Assistance, Kebun Dapur Launch and Pet Vaccination Campaign, organised by the Sabah Department of Veterinary Services (DVS Sabah) in conjunction with the department’s 50th Golden Jubilee Celebration.
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The programme saw the presentation of assistance for grazing land development, the launch of the Kitchen Garden Initiative, and the implementation of the 2026 Pet Health and Vaccination Programme, aimed at enhancing food security while promoting healthier and more sustainable communities.
Jamawi said the 50th anniversary of DVS Sabah was not merely a celebration of the department’s achievements but also a reflection of Sabah’s continued commitment to strengthening its food security agenda.
“For five decades, the Department of Veterinary Services has stood at the forefront of ensuring the meat consumed by Sabahans is safe and of high quality. However, our responsibility does not end there.
“In today’s uncertain global economic environment, food security has become one of the state’s most important priorities,” he said.
The Minister said grazing areas should no longer be viewed simply as open fields for livestock but as valuable economic assets capable of increasing Sabah’s self-sufficiency level (SSL) in meat production.
According to him, Sabah currently has grazing reserves across 15 districts, but only about 45 areas are actively utilised while another 95 remain underdeveloped or inactive.
“As Minister responsible for this sector, I want to see these grazing lands fully utilised. We cannot allow valuable land to remain idle while we continue depending heavily on imported meat,” he said.
Jamawi announced that two grazing areas in Ranau (Kinaratuan and Lingkudou) have been activated this year as integrated livestock development sites, following similar projects previously implemented in Tenom.
He also revealed that under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13), the Federal Government has approved RM18 million, while the Sabah Government has allocated RM5 million to further strengthen the livestock industry.
For 2026 alone, RM2.5 million has been channelled for physical development of grazing areas throughout Sabah.
