KOTA BELUD, Dec 14, 2025 — Sabah is set to introduce a low-cost “Kitchen Garden” concept early next year, positioning household-level food production as a practical response to rising living costs and a way to deepen rural participation in agriculture.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said the initiative, led by his ministry (MAFFI), aims to enable villagers to grow food within their own compounds at minimal cost, delivering direct benefits to daily household needs while strengthening grassroots food security.
“The Kitchen Garden concept is designed as a practical platform to reach as many people as possible, especially farmers, smallholders, fishermen and rural entrepreneurs who are already part of the agricultural ecosystem,” he said. “Insya-Allah, with careful planning, it can be launched early next year.”
Jamawi said discussions with the ministry’s permanent secretary are ongoing to refine implementation so the concept can be rolled out in an organised and effective manner.
He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the PMD Programme and the Mini Rural Entrepreneurs Carnival at Dewan Terbuka Datuk Haji Musbah Haji Jamli here.
Beyond subsistence farming, the initiative is expected to nurture a culture of self-reliance among rural households while creating pathways for micro-entrepreneurship, particularly when paired with digital marketing support already being offered through existing programmes.
Since assuming office, Jamawi said his core mission has been to uplift rural communities and improve the wellbeing of villagers who depend on agriculture as a source of income. He noted that participants of current programmes are not only receiving equipment assistance worth up to RM6,000, but also continuous support, including structured product marketing and digital approaches.
Drawing on his own background as a farmer and smallholder, Jamawi said he understands the challenges faced by villagers “whether as farmers, hawkers, fishermen, retailers or livestock breeders,” and pledged to apply that experience in shaping policies that raise living standards in rural areas.
He also commended two state agricultural agencies — the Sabah Rubber Industry Board and the Sabah Land Development Board — for their active roles in developing rural entrepreneurs, and called for sustained collaboration between government agencies and professional partners to drive inclusive rural growth.
The event was attended by Tempasuk assemblyman Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari; ministry permanent secretary Datuk Leonard Stephen Poyong; KKDW Economic Development Division senior assistant secretary Farah Ahmad; former Tempasuk assemblyman Datuk Haji Musbah Haji Jamli; Sabah Rubber Industry Board general manager Sabdil Tanjong; a representative of the Sabah Land Development Board, Haji Fauzie Haji Jamlee; and E-lokal Sdn Bhd managing director and Desamall PMD programme administrator Ahmad Shah Wahid.
Comments
Post a Comment