Sabah's annual harvest festival to promote conservation, biodiversity

 By Olivia Miwil - March 17, 2021 @ 9:27am

This file pic dated May 15, 2018, shows the traditional Sumazau dance among the features of the Kaamatan festival at Padang Merdeka Kota Kinabalu. - NSTP/EDMUND SAMUNTING.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's annual harvest or "Kaamatan" festival this year will include collecting fruit and paddy seeds from every district in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the 'seed run' activities aimed to promote environmental conservation and biodiversity.

"The seeds will then be presented to the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry for planting and propagation.

"This is a significant event because after enduring a year of Covid-19, the lockdown, job losses, and the economic downturn, we are grateful we still have our health, and fortunate to be alive.

"And like these seeds, we have the opportunity to grow again. On this day, like the seeds, we will come together to celebrate our diversity and have great hope for the future," said Jeffrey who is also state Agriculture and Fisheries minister in a statement.

Jeffrey, who is also the State Kaamatan organising chairman said the programme would also endorse the United Nations' World Biodiversity Day which is observed on May 22 each year to raise understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

He said traditionally, Kaamatan is a celebration of good harvest and the organising committee believes it is vital that the festival returns to its roots.

As for the Kaamatan celebration, the committee has agreed that the launching ceremony will take place on May 1 in Penampang while the peacemaking ceremony will be held on May 29 at the Hongkod Koisaan.

"It is in keeping with this year's theme of 'Borderless Kaamatan for Peace and Reconciliation'.

"The organising committee has been hard at work to ensure that merrymaking is still possible, while adhering to the strict standard operating procedure (SOP) by the Health Ministry," he said.

He added that while not everybody would be able to make their way to Hongkod this year, they can still celebrate Kaamatan in their own villages and districts.

However, he hopes that the ongoing national immunisation campaign would mean the situation could change come May and the SOP would be relaxed for those who have been vaccinated.