Yahya Outlines Strategies To Transform Agriculture Sector By 2020

 

KOTA KINABALU, May 13 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin, who has been reappointed as Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry after Barisan Nasional won the recent general elections, has underlined a mission to transform the agriculture sector to a higher level by 2020.

To achieve this mission, he said his ministry had specified six strategies including increasing the sector's competitveness, additional contribution from new sources with high value-add and wide usage of modern technology as well as encouraging innovation in the sector.

Yahya said attention would also be given to more active private sector participation, agriculture entrepreneur development and increasing income of target group from hardcore poor, poor and lower income earners in the agriculture sector.

"We want to increase the income of entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector, food producers and the sector's contribution to gross domestic product through increase in productivity and creation of value-add efficiently," he said when delivering his message at a special meeting with heads of department and senior officers of his ministry at Wisma Pertanian here today.

He said one of the main focus areas of the ministry was to put in place the irrigation and drainage infrastructure that is complete and efficient particularly in boosting paddy production in Sabah.

Towards this end, he said the ministry would implement the Entry Point Project 11 of the National Key Economic Area in Kota Belud costing RM305 million.

The initial target of the project was to cultivate paddy on commercial scale on 4,500 hectares (ha) that is able to produce an average of 5.5 metric tonnes per ha by 2018.

"The contribution from 12,200ha of plantations in Kota Belud is 40,300 tonnes of paddy currently. By 2020, a total of 5,000ha would be developed costing RM340 million to plant paddy twice yearly, which is expected to increase production from five tonnes per ha to 8.5 tonnes per ha," he said.

Yahya said it was also expected to produce 91,600 tonnes of paddy including contribution from 2,200ha or three tonnes per ha from areas still using rain water, and the Kota Belud Farmers Organisation had been appointed as operator for commercial cultivation.

"The main objective of my ministry is that paddy production in the state achieves a sufficient level of 60 per cent," he said.

As of 2011, he said the sufficient level achieved for rice was 20.86 per cent or a production of 83,313 tonnes, fruits (87.74 per cent), vegetables (56.90 per cent) and corn farming at 1.70 per cent.

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Sabah Deputy CM Confident Putatan Folk With BN

PUTATAN (SABAH), Feb 28 (Bernama) -- Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin has expressed confidence that voters in Putatan will remain with the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general election.

The assemblyman for Petagas, one of the two state seats in the Putatan parliamentary constituency, said even the young voters in Putatan would favour the BN. Tanjong Aru is the other state seat within Putatan.

Yahya, who is Sabah Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, spoke at a meeting with about 1,000 young and first-time voters at his residence in Kuala Putatan II, yesterday.

The BN had brought much development to Putatan, including infrastructure, such as roads, and schools, he said.

Yahya advised the young voters not to fall prey to the sweet promises of the opposition political parties to garner their votes.

-- BERNAMA

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Sabahans have no reason to replace caring govt: Deputy CM

PUTATAN (Jan 27, 2013): Sabahans should have no reason to replace the current Barisan Nasional (BN) government at the 13th General Election, as it has maintained the people in comfort and peace in the country through various programmes and initiatives, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin.

"We should be grateful for having a government that is sensitive and listens to the feelings and problems of its people. And fulfils their needs through programmes such as 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) and RM100 school aid," he said during a gathering at Kampung Tombovo, here yesterday.

Yahya, who is state Agriculture and Food Industry Minister and Petagas assemblyman, also advised Sabahans to live in peace and harmony and avoid any sensitive issues touching on religion.

He presented cash and daily necessities to 100 senior citizens and the underprivileged, at the gathering and plastic chairs to the Village Safety and Development Committees from Kampung Potuki, Kampung Tombovo, Kampung Kopimpinan and Kampung Dovansom.

Meanwhile in PITAS, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri urged the people to evaluate the opposition's stand carefully, saying they were just pretending to cooperate through a marriage of convenience.

"There's a sense of falseness in their coalition. Their tactic of win first and solve problems later is a gamble on the people's fate," said the Kudat member of parliament.

"Whereas, Barisan Nasional (BN) led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is a united, solid and very experienced party," he said during a gathering with the fishing community in Pitas, at Kampung Rosob yesterday.

Abdul Rahim distributed cost of living allowances to 350 fishermen and fishing equipment to 70 others. He also announced a RM2.5 million allocation for the repair of 180 houses, saying the Kudat parliamentary constituency had received the highest allocation nationwide from the central government at RM3.3 million, thus proving its care for the people's needs. – Bernama

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‘Red tide’ expected to last until June: Yahya

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin said the Red Sea Water phenomena that occur in the state since November last year and expected to last until June this year.
Hence, he said, people are told not to consume all types of shelled marine life at the moment.
“However, all types of fish, shrimp and crabs are safe to eat,” he said when contacted here, yesterday.
Yahya said the red sea phenomenon otherwise known as’ red tide ‘is happening on the west coast of Sabah due to the presence of a single-celled organism called a dinoflagellate phytoplankton’ in the sea water.
The phenomenon which hit the country two months ago sparked an uproar when two young victims aged 14 and nine years died from eating shellfish near the waters off Sepanggar.
Therefore, the public is not only asked to avoid eating shellfish but are forbidden to sell it to the public.
“All kinds of seashell, snails and clams are not safe to be eaten and the situation is expected to last and the toxic level content is expected to rise,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said his ministry will continue to monitor the development of this phenomenon and will inform the public on an ongoing basis.
He said that among the methods used at this time to inform the public which includes posters and Short Messaging Service (SMS).
In the meantime, the state Fisheries Department director, Rainer Galid said the areas affected by this phenomenon is the waters off Kota Kinabalu till Papar.
“We will continue to be vigilant in this area and will inform the public from time to tim,” he said.

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Sabah govt wants more palm oil players subscribing to RSPO

24th December, 2012

TAWAU: The Sabah State Government wants to see more palm oil sector players in the state, including small estates, subscribing to the production of sustainably produced palm oil under the ambit of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman said by following theRSPO, the scope of palm oil related activities and palm oil related industrial sectors could truly attest to the Malaysian-produced certified sustainable palm oil.

“Global demand, in particular from the European Union and the United States, demands sustainably produced palm oil…I hope East Malaysia Planters’ Association (EMPA) members are responsive to the sustainability requirements, and are making progress in producing certified sustainabale palm oil,” he said.

Musa stressed this in his speech text delivered by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin at the EMPA Annual Dinner here on Saturday night.

The RSPO was formed in 2004 with the objective of promoting the growth and use of sustainable oil palm products through credible global standards and engagement of stakeholders.

RSPO is a not-for-profit, market-led association that represents stakeholders from seven sectors of the palm oil industry – oil palm producers, palm oil processors or traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation NGOs and social or developmental NGOs – to develop and implement global standards for sustainable palm oil.

Read More : New Sabah Times

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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.

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Avoid politics at work, civil servants told

Published on: Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin urged civil servants to perform their duties professionally, devoid of the influence of any politically sympathy to the struggle of political parties.

"I raise this matter as with the elections drawing close there are public complaints regarding the attitude of some civil servants who try to venture into politics.

"There is no doubt that every one of you as a public servant have your own political stance. This position is certainly in favour of or being sympathetic to the struggle of certain political parties.

"However in the course of duty, I feel professionalism should be practiced without taking in account one's personal political standpoint," he said.

He said this in his speech while officiating at the Excellent Service Awards (APC) and presentation of MS ISO 9001: 2008 certificate in 2012 the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry Sabah at Wisma Pertanian Sabah on Monday.

He said that professionalism is important in determining the state machinery runs smoothly and orderly.

Professionalism in their service means being transparent and or not be one sided in favouring any party and to carry out their entrusted duties successfully.

Read More :  http://www.dailyexpress.com.my

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Illegal railway crossing remains open until slip road, drain repaired

23rd May, 2012

PUTATAN: The illegal railway crossing fronting Jamilah Enterprise here will not be closed until the slip road and drainage system has been repaired and improved.Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Haji Hussin said this after meeting the traders and owners of business premises at Jalan Putatan who are affected by the closure of the illegal bypass connection yesterday.Later speaking to the media, Yahya who is also Minister of Agriculture & Food Industry said this measure will be temporary after taking into consideration the condition of the adjoining slip road and the requests of the business operators there.“Business operators and premises owners had complained that due to the nonexistence of a proper drainage system along the slip road, flash floods often occur during heavy rain,” he said.The problem, said Yahya, was aggravated further by the poor and bad condition of the narrow slip road that also makes it almost impassable to heavy vehicles.The State Assemblyman for Petagas also urged the Sabah State Railway Department to apply for government funding to resolve the problem that has persisted over the years immediately.Yahya was accompanied by Sabah State Railway Department general manager Mohd Zain Said, Putatan district officer Awang Abd Ghani Pg Yusof, Ministry of Agriculture & Food Industry political secretary Haji Mahlan Zinin, local community leaders and members of the media.

New Sabah Times

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2,500 rubber farmers next year

22nd May, 2012

KOTA KINABALU: About 2,500 smallholders will take part in a rubber planting project by the Sabah Rubber Industry Board next year.It will involve some 7,000 hectares of land at a cost of RM73 million, said the board chairman, Ahmad Haji Bujang. “This year, the board is in the midst of implementing planting and

re-planting programmes on 6,392 hectares costing RM40.6 million,” he said.He was speaking at a lunch hosted by the board for media bureau chiefs and director generals with the Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Yahya Hussin who is also the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry at the Pacific Sutera here yesterday.Also present were Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Datuk Bobbey Suan and general manager of the Sabah Rubber Industry Board, Datuk Harris Mathews.Ahmad who is also the assemblyman for Sindumin, said the board was making steps forward to change its image and create a new environment to enable rubber smallholders in Sabah to enjoy development dynamically.“Challenges in this era demand that all levels of society increase their knowledge and new technologies offer various sources to obtain information rapidly. This means smallholders can get information easily and quickly and they can keep abreast of the current issues facing rubber smallholders in the state,” he said.He therefore called on media practitioners to help in disseminating information for the smallholders, particularly the latest updates from the Sabah Rubber Industry Board.

New Sabah Tie

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7,202 youths benefited from 1Azam

27th March, 2012

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Minister of Agriculture & Food Industry Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin told the State Assembly here that a total of 7,202 youths have benefited from the 1Azam programme which had started since 2010.

Replying to the Sulabayan Assemblyman Datuk Haji Harman Haji Mohammad yesterday, he said an allocation of RM72,174,496.52 had been utilised up to now and the ministry expects another 7,000 participants will gain from this programme for this year with the total cost of RM71 million.

Harman wanted to know how many youths in the State had benefited from the 1Azam programme which is aimed to reduce the poverty rate among the poor and the allocation provided for the purpose.

To another question by Datuk Haji Zakaria Haji Mohd Edris, Yahya said for the year 2012, his ministry has allocated an allocation ofRM71 million to conduct similar like those being implemented last year.

“In addition, the implementing agencies under my ministry are also providing assistance to help improve their earnings such as the Chili and Tomato Planting Fertigation Assistance, Business Loan Assistance, Agricultural Equipment Assistance, Poultry Rearing Assistance and the Fisheries Equipment Assistance,” he said.

According to him, up to this year, the ministry and all implementing agencies are conducting the impact study on the effectiveness of the programmes and a complete detailed report is expected by April 2012.

However, he said his ministry had received feedbacks and some 274 youths had improved in their monthly earnings to RM1,050 after going through the business activity or employment.

There is some participant from the Tuaran Agriculture Department programmes who managed to earn RM9,000 a month.

The ministry’s target is at least 10 per cent or 1,250 youths out of the total 12,500 e-kasih participants to be taken out of the poor income bracket.

Source: New Sabah Times

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