Kota Kinabalu: Sabah has allocated RM60 million to push towards modernising farming and turning Sabah into a food-producing powerhouse through its six-year Rural Agricultural Economic Revolution (RAER) plan.
“The goal is to grow better crops, help farmers sell their products, create jobs in the rural area and make sure there is enough food for everyone while boosting the economy,” said Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan in his winding-up speech at the State Assembly.
He said the RAER (2025–2030) will kick off in May with an annual allocation of RM10 million, amounting to RM60 million.
A total of 100,000 individuals or households are targeted to participate in the RAER, which emphasises entrepreneurship, innovation and excellence.
“To ensure RAER’s success, we are promoting the slogan ‘Unity is Duty’ as a unifying element among the Government, private sector and the people of Sabah,” he said.
“Agriculture is a primary economic sector that plays an important role as a key driver of economic growth in Sabah and the RAER’s success depends on land management, labour and related resources.
“Native Title lands to be used include village lands and land owned by the Ministry identified as suitable for RAER.
“Sabah has three million hectares of NT lands and RAER will focus on developing 10 per cent of this area for rural communities,” he said.
Various programmes under RAER include high-value vegetable and fruit cultivation (including Musang King durian), coffee and cocoa farming, freshwater aquaculture, poultry farming, ruminant livestock, agro-processing and basic food industries.
“We are committed to further increasing agricultural output and generating income for target groups, in line with food security policies,” he said.
Among the programmes and initiatives to be implemented this year are the Padi Cultivation and Production Modernisation Programme under the Sabah Padi and Rice Board (LPBS) and the development of idle rural lands through the RAER.
He said the REAR initiative was approved by Cabinet on March 26, 2025, to increase agricultural output and food security in Sabah specifically and Malaysia generally.
“We aim to raise the income of target groups and directly lift them out of poverty and help mobilise and diversify the economic resources of rural target groups through RAER.
“We also aim to reduce rural unemployment rates and boost rural economic growth to contribute to Sabah’s economic development.
“My Ministry will be the lead agency to coordinate and monitor RAER’s implementation in collaboration with ministries, departments, agencies, government-linked companies, government-linked investment companies and stakeholders,” he said.
He said among strategies for RAER’s success are raising awareness and prioritising its importance among Sabah’s rural communities, including encouraging rural community participation in RAER programmes.
This also includes strengthening cooperation and collaboration between the Government, private sector and the people, as well as establishing a special unit within the Ministry to monitor, coordinate, gather reports, evaluate and provide recommendations for problem-solving and improvements.
“This unit will also collaborate with the Sabah Agricultural Marketing Authority (Sama), Koperasi Pembangunan Desa and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority,” said Jeffrey.
“The Padi Cultivation and Production Modernisation Programme is part of RAER. Production is expected to increase through mechanisation, modern technology, high-yield seeds and off-season planting.
“The Cabinet meeting on March 12, 2025, approved the establishment of the Sama, which will regulate, administer and market agricultural products in Sabah, especially rural produce,” he said.
He said Sama supervised by his Ministry will assist small-scale farmers and agri-entrepreneurs in Sabah.
“Many still practise subsistence farming, limiting their produce’s commercial marketability,” he said.
He said Sama, focusing on agricultural marketing, will directly impact crop sub-sector development, allowing farmers to concentrate on increasing yields without worrying about sales.