By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 6: Sarawak has identified and gazetted 7,000 hectares of State land exclusively for paddy cultivation as part of a broader strategy to strengthen food security and reduce dependence on imported rice.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the gazetted land forms half of the 14,000 hectares earmarked for paddy development across Sarawak, comprising both State-owned and smallholder land.
He said the move was necessary to ensure agricultural land designated for rice production is protected from being converted to other more lucrative crops.
“We have identified 14,000 hectares of land comprising State land and smallholder land, but the majority will be State land. Of that, 7,000 hectares have been gazetted for paddy production,” he said when officiating at the 2nd Sarawak Rice Conference (SARICON II) 2026 at Raia Hotel and Convention Centre here today.
Abang Johari said gazetting the land would guarantee its long-term use for rice cultivation.
“We do not want people to plant other crops. They may plant small oil palm estates because that brings more money than rice. To avoid that and mitigate land-use changes, we gazette it for paddy production. They cannot plant any other crop,” he said.
The Premier said the initiative forms part of Sarawak’s policy review on paddy production, driven by growing concerns over climate change and global food security.
He noted that climate-related disasters affecting major rice-exporting countries such as Vietnam, Pakistan and Thailand could disrupt rice supplies to Malaysia.
“Rice is our staple food. Therefore, we have to increase our own food production,” he stressed.
Beyond land availability, Abang Johari said Sarawak is also focusing on improved seed varieties, technology adoption and human capital development to transform the paddy sector.
He challenged researchers and scientists to help Sarawak raise average yields from the current 1.2 metric tonnes per hectare per season to between eight and 12 metric tonnes per hectare per season.
“This is quite a challenging task, but I believe scientists can explore new seedlings, hybrid varieties and better management systems to achieve this target,” he said.
Abang Johari revealed that the Sarawak government is working with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Bintulu to identify strategic components needed to improve paddy productivity and increase rice output.
He also highlighted ongoing collaboration with Yunnan University in China to test perennial rice varieties in Baram.
The rice variety, he said, only needs to be planted once every five years, with new shoots regenerating naturally after harvest.
“At the moment it seems to be quite successful in Baram. If it continues to perform well, we may extend it to the land that we have identified and gazetted for paddy production,” he said.
According to Abang Johari, perennial rice could potentially be harvested three to four times annually, producing around eight tonnes per hectare per harvest.
Based on preliminary estimates, he said the technology could eventually enable Sarawak to achieve between 60 and 70 per cent self-sufficiency in rice production.
The Sarawak government is also investing heavily in supporting infrastructure, including irrigation systems, with RM1 billion allocated for paddy development areas.
“Food security is a global problem. Sarawak wants to contribute to Malaysia’s rice self-sufficiency because we have the land. What is important is that we know how to manage it effectively,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Food Industry Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail representing Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Deputy Minister of Regional Development Datuk Martin Ben as well as Pakan assemblyman and advisor in the Premier of Sarawak’s Department (Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development) Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom were among the distinguished guests present. — DayakDaily
