Focus on optimal food production

SANDAKAN: The government will be focusing on developing further the food production sector to more optimal levels.
Minister of Agriculture & Food Industry Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin said these efforts could be achieved through the development of small farmers in clusters as well as forging smart partnerships with the private sector.
He said this was necessary as the value of food imports into the State had risen by 3.02 per cent from RM2.65 billion in 2009 to RM2.73 billion the following year.
He said 62 per cent of the total was used to import types of food which could readily be cultivated or grown in the State but in terms of production quantities were insufficient.
“For example, at the moment, we are only able to produce 26 per cent of rice, 12 per cent of meat, 34 per cent of dairy products and 10 per cent of maize from local production. As a result, we need to take action so that food production can be developed to its optimum level,” he said at the closing of the 2012 Farmers Training Centre Sabah at Dewan Sri Libaran here on Monday.
Yahya also said that in efforts to increase domestic food production for the State, the main programme being focused on is the development of major food crop, which is rice.
He added that efforts would be undertaken focussing on the existing padi fields of some 35,600 hectares where various strategies have been initiated by the Agriculture Department, including the formation of district committees on rice cultivation.
“The efforts include providing quality seeds, ploughing subsidies, rental of two wheel tractor (TDR), pest control, water management, the introduction of a new strain of rice, yield enhancement technology, the creation of Kota Belud granary and to provide training. Other than this, the implementation of Permanent Food Production Parks (TPKM) on a large-scale basis commercially and with high technology by the private sector and private commercial entrepreneurs, including advanced farmers and former trainees of the training centres.
“For this purpose, the State government has identified an area of 1,600 hectares in Papar, Beaufort, Tawau and Kinabatangan. A variety of food crops with the potential as import substitution and for export food would be developed,” he said.
In the meantime, Yahya praised TPKM Tawau which has already been implemented and is operating successfully.
He hoped that the establishment of TPKM would be able to support and contribute towards increasing continuous food production of quality and high value and adequate for the needs of local, State and country in the future.
Also present at the closing event were Agriculture director Datuk MC Ismail Salam and the heads of departments & agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture & Food Industry.