By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 12: After setting aside RM500 million for the first phase of a large-scale paddy cultivation project, the Sarawak government will need another RM500 million to implement the second phase in northern areas.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the first phase includes areas such as Lingga, Stumbin, Simunjan, Gedong and Lundu.
For this, he said the Sarawak government would cover the cost with an allocation of RM500 million to develop the irrigation infrastructure for high-yield paddy cultivation.
“For the second phase, we will grow paddy in Limbang Valley and Lawas as well as northern areas including Bintulu and Miri.
“This will require a substantial fund, an additional RM500 million for us to develop the infrastructure for paddy cultivation,” he said when officiating Sarawak Agrofest held at Bintulu Old Airport broadcast live by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) on Facebook today.
Abang Johari also mentioned that these large-scale paddy cultivation initiatives are aimed at producing five harvests of high-yield paddy within 24 months.
In each harvest or season, he said one hectare of land could generate eight metric tonnes of rice, based on the success of a pilot project carried out in Gedong.
He further said that it is Sarawak’s goal to be able to produce 400,000 metric tonnes of rice, which will not only meet its own rice needs but also contribute surplus to Peninsular Malaysia.
“Sarawak only needs 240,000 metric tonnes of rice.
“Therefore, we can share the remaining surplus of rice stock with our friends in Peninsular Malaysia and possibly become the largest ‘rice bowl’ of Malaysia (top rice producer) by the end of 2030,” he added.
Also present were Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (MFICORD) Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom; Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Sarawak (Food Industry) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail; Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Sarawak (Commodity and Regional Development) Datuk Maclaine@Martin Ben; MFICORD permanent secretary Sirai Daha; and Bintulu Resident Nyurak Keti. — DayakDaily
