Tuesday, Sept 29 2015.
By Olivia Miwil
Pictures by Erdie
Hazzuan Abdul Wahid.
KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia is on track
to reach full self-sufficiency in rice production by 2020.
International Institute of
Plantation Management acting president Daud Amatzin said the National
Agricultural policy put emphasis on rice productivity to address possibility of
food crisis.
Last year, the country produced 1,704,
093 tonne of rice which contributed 71.9 per cent of self-sufficiency.
“The government is being serious and
has given support and financial assistance including subsidy to maintain the
food security in the country.
“For now, the focuses will be on persuading
private sectors and farmers to be involved in rice cultivation,” he said,
adding aggressive promotion had to be done as rice was in intense market competition
with other commodities such as rubber and palm oil.
Daud was speaking after the
launching of three-day National Plantation Industry Conference and Exhibition
here yesterday.
On the programme, he said one of
main objectives was to educate local farmers which could improve productivity
so that they would have higher and consistent incomes.
“In Sabah, people could grow
specialty rice which can be sold at higher price for its nutritional value.
“We are also emphasising branding
exercises to stakeholders so the rice commodity could compete well in the
market,” he added.
Sabah has about 44,921 hectare of
rice cultivation field which yielded 2.7 tonne per hectare last year. Since
2010, the government had spent RM42.9 million for irrigation infrastructure to
boost the productivity.
Present was Sabah deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin, who is also state Agriculture Development and Food Industry minister, represented the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
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