Dr Stephen (third left) visits the Perennial Rice Cultivation Project by Borneoland Paddy Sdn Bhd in Kuala Baram on July 14, 2026. Photo credit: TVS

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By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 14: The results of Sarawak’s first perennial rice harvest, expected to be officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg in early August will help determine which varieties could be expanded for wider cultivation.

According to TVS, the Kuala Baram pilot project is evaluating 30 perennial rice varieties introduced through a collaboration with Yunnan University in China.

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Sarawak Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (MFICORD) Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the trial aims to identify rice varieties that are best suited to Sarawak’s soil and climate conditions.

“From the 30 varieties, we will select one or two of the best-performing strains for wider cultivation,” he said after visiting the Perennial Rice Cultivation Project undertaken by Borneoland Paddy Sdn Bhd in Kuala Baram today.

Dr Stephen said perennial rice offers significant advantages over conventional varieties as it only needs to be planted once but can be harvested multiple times, potentially boosting rice production while reducing planting costs and labour requirements.

The first harvest is scheduled to take place in early August and will mark a key milestone in assessing the crop’s performance before any decision is made on its wider adoption across Sarawak. — DayakDaily