KOTA KINABALU - The implementation of the Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA) through the paddy field project in Kota Belud would help increase the local rice production and reduce the dependency rate of imported rice outside of Sabah.
Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said, IADA that was implemented in Kota Belud was a result of the cooperation between the federal government and the Sabah government with an allocation of over RM250 million.
He said at the moment, the whole country could only afford to produce rice for the self-sufficiency level (SSL) of only 70 per cent while the other 30 per cent was imported from outside.
"In Sabah, the rate is higher because rice production is not at a satisfactory level and we still depend on import and shipment of rice from other states.
"Of course there are efforts through the federal and state governments where the federal government implemented the IADA in Kota Belud, which is a large integrated paddy field project and is being worked on by the government by channeling more than RM250 million for the overall programme,” he said after launching the Street Attack Agricultural Exhibition programme, Malaysian Horticulture and Agrotourism (Maha) 2022, at Jalan Jati, here, on Sunday.
He said this when asked about the efforts to reduce the level of dependency on imported rice in Sabah even though the state was a local rice producer through several districts.
Commenting further, he said he hoped that through the IADA programme in Kota Belud, it would increase the rice production in the state.
"Through the Sabah Department of Agriculture, a new variety of rice seed was discovered and research found that it is the best variety and capable of producing higher quality rice compared to the other varieties.
"So this is a continuous effort carried out through the federal government to produce local rice and simultaneously increase rice production in Sabah," he said.
Earlier, he said the programme was held as one of the promotion and publicity for Maha 2022 that will be held at the Serdang Malaysia Agricultural Expo Park (Maeps) in Serdang.
He said Sabah was the last state for the programme’s promotional tour which will take place from Aug 4 to 14.
"Maha was organised again after it was postponed due the pandemic in 2020 and this time it is held for 10 days at Maeps where a total of 1,500 spaces for traders and farmers were provided," he said.