KUCHING: Sarawak requires approximately RM2.5 billion to upgrade agricultural infrastructure to reactivate potential paddy fields, thereby boosting local rice production and reducing dependence on imports.

Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said that existing irrigation and drainage scheme areas covering about 9,900 hectares have the potential to support the target of reaching a 60 percent rice Self-Sufficiency Level (SSL) by 2030.

“Only 11 percent of these areas are currently actively cultivated, partly due to infrastructure conditions that require upgrading,” he said.

He said this when delivering his ministerial winding-up speech at the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting on Tuesday.

According to him, in addition to the RM2.5 billion allocation for infrastructure upgrades, RM60 million is required annually for maintenance work to rehabilitate and boost planting activities within these scheme areas.

In a related development, a total of 23 infrastructure projects covering an area of approximately 2,997 hectares have been approved under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), with a total development cost of RM136.9 million.

Of that amount, RM122.9 million is funded by the Sarawak Government for the implementation of 21 projects, while RM14 million is allocated by the Federal Government for two projects.

These efforts are expected to help increase the utilization of existing paddy fields and progressively strengthen the state's rice production capacity.

Sarawak aims to increase its rice SSL to 60 percent by 2030 through expanding cultivated areas, boosting productivity, and collaborating with the private sector. — UKASnews

Prepared by: Grace John Lee
Photos: George Embie
Translator: Ryan Lim