Premier makes clarion call to achieve food security

KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg wants the people and industries to play their roles in helping Sarawak achieve its food security goals by 2030.

He said Sarawak’s vast landmass provides a huge opportunity for food cultivation and production.

“We aim to become a net food exporter by 2030, and to achieve our food security and resilience agenda, the state needs to produce 240,000 metric tonnes of paddy so that we do not need to import rice and can be self-sufficient for local consumption.

“The food trade deficit in Sarawak in 2022 was about RM5.6 billion, which was a huge amount for the state.

“For this purpose of increasing our food production, industries are encouraged to use high-yielding paddy varieties, adopt the latest technology, and implement innovative farm management to improve rice productivity,” he said.

He said this in a speech read by Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Deputy Minister Datuk Martin Ben during the Sustainable Foods International Conference 2024 here on Tuesday (Aug 13).

Abang Johari said by actively participating in new initiatives, local communities can help Sarawak become a net food exporter and achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, thus reducing the need for imports and addressing the state’s food trade deficit.

He also noted the involvement of international entities at this conference such as the Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia, Sino Carbon Investment Beijing, Hainan Ports, Hainan International Emissions Trading Center, Shantou Tourism Association, and E-Spain Gastronomy Centre.

“Thus, I encourage engagement between these global companies, our government agencies, and local food industries. This collaboration aims to promote business networking and create opportunities in sustainable food practices for food imports and exports markets.

“This collaboration aims to promote business networking and create opportunities in sustainable food practices for food imports and exports markets,” he said.

Among those present were Sarawak Department of Veterinary Services director Datu Dr Adrian Susin Ambud, Sarawak Agriculture Department director Dominic Chunggat and the conference organising chairperson Sim Ling Ling.