KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is ramping up efforts to strengthen food crop production by offering subsidies, training, and better market access to farmers, said Assistant Minister Datuk Peto Galim.
Key initiatives include ploughing and land clearing subsidies, high-quality inputs, irrigation systems, and processing machinery. The Sabah Paddy and Rice Board is reviving over 22,000 hectares of idle paddy land, while DOA Sabah has trained over 14,000 farmers in modern agriculture, including IoT-based fertigation under the Digital AgTech initiative.
Support also extends to young agropreneurs and downstream producers, with grants driving millions in revenue. The state has developed six Agro Produce Collection Centres, with five more under construction, and launched a digital platform to streamline farm-to-market links.
Efforts also include agrotourism, rubber sector support, and disaster aid, with all districts, including Nabawan, assured of inclusive development.