KOTA KINABALU: A total of RM13 million in agreements were sealed through three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in an effort to develop the agriculture sector and enhance the country’s food security.
The MoUs were signed between the Keningau Area Farmers’ Organisation (PPK Keningau) and Absolute Moringa Sdn Bhd (AM), the Farmers’ Organisation Authority (LPP) and Desa Keningau Livestock Industries Sdn Bhd (DKLI), and between LPP and Sawit Kinabalu Farm Products Sdn Bhd (SKFP).
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, said the first agreement, worth RM10 million, involves collaboration between PPK Keningau and AM in marketing and distributing agricultural inputs to empower the business and supply services of farmers’ organisations for both members and non-members in Sabah.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});The second agreement, valued at RM3 million, was signed between LPP and DKLI to carry out a corn grain planting project, aimed at boosting local corn production through a corporate approach and technology transfer.
“I was informed the project will begin soon. It has long-term impact, particularly in reducing our dependency on imported corn grain used as livestock feed, which would indirectly increase supply and lower farming costs.
“The third MoU between LPP and SKFP involves technical cooperation for the implementation of an integrated oil palm-cattle breeding project.
“Although the project has no monetary value, it serves to optimise land use for integrated livestock farming under several high-impact initiatives,” he said after the MoU ceremony involving LPP in conjunction with the National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen’s Day celebration.
Arthur said the collaborations are expected to bring significant benefits, especially to local communities.
“These high-impact projects reflect strong cooperation between the Government and private sector in driving agricultural growth and enhancing food security.
“At the same time, by increasing the production of resources like corn grain, we can reduce import dependency, improve economic outcomes and make livestock farming more accessible and cost-effective for local farmers,” he added.
He said the Government-private sector partnerships are important to ensure that the economic spillover reaches nearby communities.
