Chief minister Hajiji Noor said various initiatives will be implemented through the board to enhance food security and meet local demand, while reducing dependence on imported rice.

“Currently, Sabah produces only about 22.8% of its rice needs, resulting in heavy reliance on imports,” Bernama reported him as saying at the launch of LPBS and Agrobank’s Padi Planting Takaful Scheme in Kota Belud today.

The text of his speech was read by deputy chief minister I and Sabah’s agriculture, fisheries and food industry minister Jeffrey Kitingan.

Hajiji called on the relevant state agencies to extend their full cooperation to the board, which will take over the development and management of padi cultivation from the agriculture department starting this year, and serve as the regulatory body for both areas moving forward.

He said the state government will focus on the development and management of padi cultivation across the key districts of Kota Marudu, Tuaran, Tambunan, Keningau, Papar and Kota Belud, which collectively cover 22,218.35ha, involving 16,018 farmers.

The government is also implementing several other initiatives, such as promoting hill padi cultivation and urging hill landowners to utilise their land to cultivate high-quality rice varieties.

“It is estimated that 13,266ha, or 32,767 acres, of hill land are suitable for padi cultivation, involving 15,617 farmers,” he said.

If fully developed, these areas have the potential to yield up to 30,424 metric tonnes of hill padi annually.