Kota Kinabalu: The State Government aims to raise the rice self-sufficiency level (SSL) to 60 per cent by 2030 through strategic alignment with the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development plan, said TYT Tun Musa Aman.
He said this is also part of various initiatives planned and intensified under the Third Sabah State Agricultural Policy (2017–2026) whereas the rice and paddy industry has been designated as one of the key sectors to be strengthened to ensure continuous and sustainable food security.
“A major focus is on strengthening the rice and paddy industry to ensure sustainable food security following increasingly extreme climate changes and frequent happenings of natural disasters in Sabah which are worrying.
“Such situation poses a serious potential threat to the State’s food security if the State government fails to take proactive measures to strengthen food resilience.
“Therefore, he said the State government is intensifying efforts to safeguard food security and boost agricultural productivity, which serves as the main supplier of food and raw materials for Sabah’s agriculture-based industries,” he said.
Sabah is ramping up agricultural research and innovation activities to produce crop varieties that are more resilient and of higher quality.
Between 2021 and 2024, 10 new crop varieties were developed while this year the Sabah Department of Agriculture introduced two more new varieties, including Tuaran Quality Rice 3 (TQR3), which shows potential for high-quality rice production with resistance to pests and diseases.
“Beyond rice, Sabah is also focusing on the cultivation of high-value crops, including avocados.
“The State Government has set an ambitious target of positioning Sabah as a leading avocado producer by 2030. Similar development efforts are being made for other premium export-oriented crops such as Musang King durians and MD2 pineapples,” he said.
In the fisheries sector, Musa said although Sabah has already achieved a self-sufficiency level (SSL) of over 100 per cent, the State Government will still focus on enhancing enforcement, attracting investments and exploring the potential of deep-sea fisheries and commercial aquaculture activities.
In livestock, he said Sabah has recorded a steady increase in self-sufficiency, rising from 2.94 per cent in 2021 to 9.33 per cent in 2024.
“The government now targets a 25 per cent SSL for ruminant livestock by 2030. To achieve this, enhanced disease control and livestock biosecurity measures will be prioritized.
“These comprehensive initiatives reflect Sabah’s long-term commitment to building a resilient and self-reliant food ecosystem, capable of weathering both environmental and economic challenges,” he said.
