TAIPEI: Sabah and Taiwan explored the prospects for closer cooperation in the agricultural sector, particularly in technology, market expansion and sustainable farming methodologies.
The cooperation is expected to open up more development opportunities while increasing the productivity and competitiveness of the agricultural sector, thus benefiting Sabah’s farming community.
Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry (Maffi) Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar Jamawi said his Ministry was particularly interested in Taiwan’s rice cultivation technology, which could produce yields of up to 13 tonnes per hectare and allow three planting cycles a year.
He said this after paying an official visit to Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), here, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in the agricultural sector between the two regions.
The Sabah delegation was warmly received by senior Taiwan officials, including Taiwan’s Deputy Agriculture Minister Dr Wen-Jane Tu, as well as representatives from the Department of International Affairs and Taiwan’s Agriculture and Food Agency.
The meeting served as a platform to explore opportunities for exchange of the agriculture field, technical cooperation and joint development initiatives that could benefit both parties, particularly in Sabah’s farming community.
During the briefing session, the Taiwan authorities presented an overview of the country’s agricultural sector structure and its strategic achievements.
Among the matters discussed was the growth and diversity of Taiwan’s agricultural sector, which records annual output of more than US$17.1 billion, with crop production contributing 50.77 per cent, livestock 34.66 per cent and fisheries 14.53 per cent.
The Sabah delegation was also briefed on Taiwan’s smallholder farming model, where the average farm size is only 1.1 hectares, including strategies used to maximise productivity and strengthen food security.
Discussions also covered efforts to expand the economic value of the agricultural sector through the development of secondary and tertiary agriculture-based industries, including processing, sales and agro-tourism, to increase the sector’s contribution to the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Sustainable agriculture was also given attention, particularly practices emphasising food security, soil conservation and ecological protection.
The session concluded with both parties expressing confidence in the prospects for closer cooperation in the future.
Also present were Maffi Assistant Secretary (Policy) Rumaizah Ajamain; Sabah Agriculture Department Deputy Director Suraya Jubahar; Sabah Paddy and Rice Board (LPBS) General Manager Datuk Dr Ts Ramle Hj Kasin; and Sabah Rural Development Corporation (KPD) General Manager Jailis Masarip.
