Hajiji: RM559.85 mln allocated to boost Sabah’s food security

TUARAN (Feb 15): A total of RM559.85 million has been allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry (Maffi) this year to boost Sabah’s food security and improve the state’s self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) for food crops, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.

He said that under the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 (SMJ 2.0) Development Plan, the agricultural sector remains one of three key pillars driving the state’s economic growth.

“This reflects the state government’s commitment to ensuring that food security remains strong.

“As we know, food security has become a key agenda at both the global and national levels,” he said at the launch of the Maffi Kitchen Garden Roadshow at the Padang Istiadat, here on Sunday.

Hajiji noted that climate change, economic uncertainty, supply chain disruptions and the rising cost of living require a new approach that is practical, resilient and inclusive.

“Therefore, the agriculture, fisheries and food industry sector will continue to be the backbone of Sabah’s socio-economic development,” he said

The Chief Minister said several initiatives are being implemented by the Sabah Agriculture Department, the lead agency for the development of the crop subsector, including the development of Permanent Food Crop Production Zones in 15 permanent food production parks across the state.

In addition, RM3 million has been allocated to the Sabah Padi and Rice Board (LPBS) for operating expenses, while RM15 million has been set aside for the procurement of harvesting and ploughing machinery, he said.

“These initiatives aim to make Sabah a sustainable and competitive rice producer, while strengthening food security with a target self-sufficiency level (SSL) of 60 per cent by 2030,” he added.

Hajiji is confident that the state’s three economic pillars—industry, agriculture and tourism—will continue to expand over the next five years under the SMJ 2.0 direction.

However, he stressed that food security is not the responsibility of large-scale farms and projects alone.

“It also begins at the grassroots level, starting with our own home gardens. In this context, the Kitchen Garden initiative under the Rural Economic Revolution programme is a strategy that not only focuses on food production, but also emphasises reducing the cost of living and building a more self-reliant and sustainable community,” he said.

The Kitchen Garden Roadshow, to be carried out statewide, aims to ensure the initiative is fully utilised by the people, including those in urban, rural and interior areas.

“Therefore, I want to see Tuaran emerge as a ‘Model Kitchen Garden District’, where this initiative is not only carried out, but truly becomes part of the community’s way of life.

“I hope every village, housing area and community will take this opportunity to cultivate a kitchen garden according to their own capacity and creativity,” he said.

Hajiji said the Kitchen Garden Tour adopts a mentor–mentee approach, in which successful and experienced entrepreneurs will guide and advise local communities.

“This approach not only ensures the continuous transfer of knowledge and best practices, but also strengthens implementation at the grassroots level and builds a community-based support network,” he said.

He also urged youths in the state, especially in Tuaran, to seize the opportunities offered through the tour series to learn smart farming techniques that incorporate innovation and technology, which can generate additional income.