3,000 people have started kitchen gardens around their homes within six months of the initiative's launch.

Menteri MAFFI Datuk Jamawi Jaafar 

KOTA KINABALU: About 3,000 people have started kitchen gardens around their homes within six months of the initiative's launch.

Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said the initiative aims to reach 5,000 participants over its five-year implementation period.

"Our target is to have 5,000 participants or practitioners within five years. However, based on our survey, about 3,000 people have already established kitchen gardens within just six months of the programme's implementation.

"In conjunction with this year's Farmers' Day, we will work towards introducing a scheme or incentive for participants who have successfully maintained their kitchen gardens as a form of appreciation to encourage them to continue their efforts.

"In addition, we are holding discussions with the Mayor of Kota Kinabalu, the President of the Sandakan Municipal Council and the Tawau Municipal Council to identify pockets of land in urban areas to enable residents living in flats or condominiums to participate in the kitchen garden initiative," he told reporters on the fourth day of the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the 17th Sabah State Legislative Assembly here on Thursday.

Jamawi said the programme would also be expanded to educational institutions beginning next year, with the support of relevant ministries and agencies, to cultivate awareness of food security among the younger generation.

Meanwhile, he urged all elected representatives, heads of departments and State Government administrators to prioritise locally grown fruits as official gifts in support of Sabah's farmers and agricultural industry.

"The practice of giving imported fruits such as apples and grapes as gifts or tokens of appreciation should be reduced and replaced with locally produced fruits that directly benefit our farmers.

"We hope all elected representatives and heads of departments will take the lead in promoting and supporting local fruits," he said.

Jamawi added that the initiative would help strengthen Sabah's local fruit industry by providing farmers with better opportunities to market their produce.