KUCHING, May 13 — Sarawak has identified approximately 15,000 hectares of land with strong potential for commercial padi cultivation.
Sarawak’s Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Martin Ben said to date a total of 6,176 hectares has been approved by the Sarawak Padi and Rice Taskforce for implementation.
“Of the total area, 2,325.32 hectares of state land have been officially gazetted as designated padi cultivation areas,” he said during the Question Time session at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting, today.
He said this in response to a question by Datuk Miro Simuh (GPS-Serembu) who wanted to know long term food security strategy by the state government and how effective has it been so far.
Martin said under the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), Sarawak is targeting a 60 per cent rice self-sufficiency level by 2030.
“For padi and rice industry development, the progress has been encouraging, supported by ongoing initiatives such as gazettement of padi cultivation area, developing complete irrigation infrastructure, adopting high-yielding padi seed as well as promoting digital technology,” he said.
