Latest news with #SabahRiceandPadiBoard
Daily Express
7 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
CM highlights SMJ success in boosting economy, welfare
Published on: Saturday, June 21, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 21, 2025 Text Size: Hajiji delivers his address at the ceremony. - Pic by CMD KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government will continue to strengthen the implementation of inclusive development policies under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) roadmap to ensure sustained progress and public well-being. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor stated that the SMJ roadmap has yielded notable outcomes, particularly in economic recovery, investment, agriculture, human capital development, and public welfare. He highlighted increased investment activities and higher state revenue as indicators of the policy's effectiveness since its launch. Hajiji made the remarks during his address at the State Honours and Awards Ceremony in conjunction with the 74th official birthday of Head of State Tun Musa Aman at Istana Seri Kinabalu on Saturday. He said the government is also focused on developing the agricultural sector, with key initiatives including the establishment of the Sabah Rice and Padi Board and the launch of the Padi Crop Takaful Scheme. These efforts aim to raise the state's rice self-sufficiency level from 24 per cent in 2025 to 60 per cent by 2030 and reduce reliance on imports. Advertisement Hajiji also stressed the importance of federal-state cooperation and expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for defending Sabah's sovereignty against external claims, while extending birthday wishes to Musa. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Sabah revives rice and padi board to enhance food security, self-sufficiency level
KOTA BELUD: The Sabah government today revived the Sabah Rice and Padi Board, aiming to increase the state's rice self-sufficiency level to 30 per cent by next year and 60 per cent by 2030. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said various initiatives will be implemented through the board to enhance food security and meet local demand, while reducing dependence on imported rice. "Currently, Sabah produces only about 22.8 per cent of its rice needs, resulting in heavy reliance on imports," he said at the launch of the board and Agrobank's Padi Planting Takaful Scheme here today. His speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister I and Sabah's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. Hajiji called on relevant state agencies to extend full cooperation to the board, which will take over the development and management of padi cultivation from the Department of Agriculture starting this year, and serve as the regulatory body for both areas moving forward. Hajiji said the state government will focus on the development and management of padi cultivation across the key districts of Kota Marudu, Tuaran, Tambunan, Keningau, Papar, and Kota Belud, which collectively cover 22,218.35ha, involving 16,018 farmers. He added that the government is also implementing several other initiatives, such as promoting hill padi cultivation, thus urging hill landowners to utilise their land to cultivate high-quality rice varieties. "It is estimated that 13,266ha, or 32,767 acres, of hill land are suitable for padi cultivation, involving 15,617 farmers," he said, adding that if fully developed, these areas have the potential to yield up to 30,424 metric tonnes of hill padi annually. Drawing a comparison to Sarawak's well-known Bario rice, Hajiji said Sabah has its own distinctive hill padi varieties as well, such as Adan rice from Long Pasia, Sipitang, as well as those from Ranau, Kudat, and Pitas, which are gaining popularity. "I assure you that the state government remains fully committed to revitalising idle padi fields and increasing local rice production," he said, calling on government-linked companies to develop their unused land for the purpose. Meanwhile, Hajiji encouraged farmers to take advantage of the Padi Planting Takaful Scheme, which provides insurance protection. Under the scheme, Malaysian padi farmers aged 18 and above, cultivating in designated areas, registered under the Federal Government Fertiliser Scheme, and holding an Agrobank account, will be covered against crop damage caused by natural disasters, pests and diseases. – BERNAMA
The Sun
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Sabah revives rice and padi board to enhance food security, self-sufficiency level
KOTA BELUD: The Sabah government today revived the Sabah Rice and Padi Board (LPBS), aiming to increase the state's rice self-sufficiency level to 30 percent by next year and 60 percent by 2030. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said various initiatives will be implemented through the board to enhance food security and meet local demand, while reducing dependence on imported rice. 'Currently, Sabah produces only about 22.8 percent of its rice needs, resulting in heavy reliance on imports,' he said at the launch of LPBS and Agrobank's Padi Planting Takaful Scheme here today. His speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister I and Sabah's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. Hajiji called on relevant state agencies to extend full cooperation to the board, which will take over the development and management of padi cultivation from the Department of Agriculture starting this year, and serve as the regulatory body for both areas moving forward. Hajiji said the state government will focus on the development and management of padi cultivation across the key districts of Kota Marudu, Tuaran, Tambunan, Keningau, Papar, and Kota Belud, which collectively cover 22,218.35 hectares, involving 16,018 farmers. He further stated that the government is also implementing several other initiatives, such as promoting hill padi cultivation, thus urging hill landowners to utilise their land to cultivate high-quality rice varieties. 'It is estimated that 13,266 hectares, or 32,767 acres, of hill land are suitable for padi cultivation, involving 15,617 farmers,' he said, adding that if fully developed, these areas have the potential to yield up to 30,424 metric tonnes of hill padi annually. Drawing a comparison to Sarawak's well-known Bario rice, Hajiji said Sabah has its own distinctive hill padi varieties as well, such as Adan rice from Long Pasia, Sipitang, as well as those from Ranau, Kudat, and Pitas, which are gaining popularity. 'I assure you that the state government remains fully committed to revitalising idle padi fields and increasing local rice production,' he said, calling on government-linked companies to develop their unused land for the purpose. Meanwhile, Hajiji encouraged farmers to take advantage of the Padi Planting Takaful Scheme, which provides insurance protection. Under the scheme, Malaysian padi farmers aged 18 and above, cultivating in designated areas, registered under the Federal Government Fertiliser Scheme, and holding an Agrobank account, will be covered against crop damage caused by natural disasters, pests and diseases.
