BINTULU: Sarawak is willing to spend a huge amount of money on padi cultivation to ensure self-sufficiency in the production of the staple food, says Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg (pic).

He said the state government has identified 3,000ha for padi cultivation, namely in the Tanjung Bijat, Stumbin and Lingga areas in Sri Aman; Gedong, Simunjan; and Lundu.

Based on a cultivation model developed by Universiti Putra Malaysia, those areas could produce up to 240,000 tonnes of padi per annum, he said.

“That means our production of rice is there. We don’t have to import rice but if you want to include Limbang-Lawas Valley, plus the areas in Miri, we have an excess. Then we will share (it) with Peninsular Malaysia.

“The whole country will then have sufficient rice. This is our target as far as padi is concerned, and the Sarawak government is willing to invest whatever money we have into this padi objective,” he said when closing the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Congress 2024 here yesterday, Bernama reported.

To achieve this, Abang Johari said Sarawak needs to invest in three important components: technology, infrastructure and market access.

He said the government has allocated RM500mil for irrigation in the said areas, with RM32mil channelled into implementing an irrigation project in Gedong.

“After that, we are going to improve the irrigation system in Sri Aman and Lundu,” said .

Sarawak has also allocated up to RM20bil to improve road connectivity to the rural coastal area, with a huge amount from the state’s coffers going to bridge construction.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/13/swak-eager-to-throw-big-money-on-rice-production