KUCHING: New sites for large-scale rice farming have been identified in Banting and Stumbin Bijat in Sri Aman.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said that Lubok Punggor, Gedong is another potential location for rice farming. There, a land area of over 1,000 hectares is set to become a special rice cultivation zone.
“We’re teaming up with Universiti Putra Malaysia to introduce a new rice variety. This variety can be harvested three times in just 18 months,” Premier said.
However, he highlighted the need to address drainage and irrigation systems first, mentioning their high costs.
“To cover these expenses, we need the Federal Government’s support,” he said when officiating at the AgroFest 2023 at Dataran Perayaan, Jalan Stadium, Petra Jaya yesterday.
He also noted hill rice farming in Baram. Combining all these areas, there are roughly 5,000 hectares designated for rice farming.
“Our goal is to develop these identified lands as primary rice-growing zones. But first, the right infrastructure and transportation must be in place,” he added.
Abang Johari explained that as rice is a regulated product in the country, the state government will turn its attention to rice processing.
“Our harvested rice might be used to produce rice flour. This flour can be turned into biscuits or cookies for export, increasing the earnings of our rice farmers,” he added.
