By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has enough rice supply to last nine months, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said today.
Urging the public to remain calm, Jamawi said the state's current stockpiles were sufficient to meet the needs of the people.
He said the supply situation was stable when combined with commercial stocks, wholesaler stocks, and locally produced rice.
"If combined with commercial stocks, wholesaler stocks and local rice supply, the total rice supply in Sabah can last up to nine months," the Melalap assemblyman said in a statement today.
He said his ministry had contacted Bernas Sabah to obtain clarification on the state's distribution.
He added that suppliers appointed by Bernas were delivering rice supplies for districts experiencing shortages.
Jamawi said his ministry had taken proactive steps to increase padi and rice production.
"The Economy Ministry has also promised an allocation for Sabah to open an additional 2,000 hectares of idle padi fields.
"The new areas involve locations in Kota Belud, Terusan Sapi, Telupid, Tambunan, Keningau and Tenom."
Monitoring has been conducted, and Jamawi, together with relevant officers, has visited identified padi fields and irrigation areas suitable for development as rice granaries.
He said the move aimed to increase Sabah's self-sufficiency level in rice production.
"The state government will continue to work towards increasing paddy and rice production and supply to ensure the needs of the people are always met," he said.
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