26 January 2013| last updated at 11:20PM
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's second permanent food production park in Putatan near here is expected to yield yearly profits of RM5 million.
State Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussein said the 5ha project, costing RM10.37 million, was financed by the Federal Government.
"This agricultural project is aimed at ensuring food security for the state as we now only have an abundance of oil palm plantations.
"In fact, the state is still importing a lot of fruits and vegetables," he said after visiting the project site at the Putatan Integrated Agricultural Training Centre yesterday.
The park, expected to be completed next year, will produce rock melons thrice a year while chillies and brinjals will be planted in between on a rotational basis.
State Agriculture Department director Datuk M.C. Ismail Salam said the park would provide jobs to at least 44 people a year.
Under the project, 11 sheltered farming housing lots will be rented out and interested participants will have to undergo interview sessions.
He said the priority would be for local agropreneurs and agricultural graduates who could earn at least RM3,000 a month.
The first food park in Tawau, 540km from here, started operations in 2009.
Similar facilities will be set up soon at Sungai Lokan and Sungai Koyah in Kinabatangan, Masilou in Kundasang, as well as Mandalipau in Papar.
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