SAMARAHAN : Sarawak is confident of reducing the reliance on imported rice for the needs of its 2.9 million people by opening four large-scale paddy cultivation areas.

Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg said the confidence was the result of the success of a hybrid rice planting pilot project in Kampung Lubok Punggur, Gedong.

He said the pilot project conducted by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) together with Global Farm Biotech has successfully produced rice that can produce three times in 18 months.

"This hybrid rice can be grown out of season, for example like now, therefore it can be planted three times in an 18-month period," he said.

He made the remarks at a press conference after making a working visit to the hybrid rice cultivation pilot project at Kampung Lubok Punggur in Gedong, today.

Also present were Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development, Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom and Deputy Minister of Village and Regional Progress, Datuk Rubiah Wang.

Abang Johari said, due to limited local rice production, Sarawak is now forced to rely on rice imports from the peninsula as well as abroad, especially Vietnam and Thailand.

This is because, he said, Sarawak's local rice production only covers 34 percent of the rice needs for the people of the state.

""That's why we opened four large-scale rice planting areas with a total area of about 10,000 hectares, namely in Kampung Lubok Punggur, Spaoh in Betong, Tanjung Bijat in Sri Aman and Tanjung Purun in Lundu.

"If all 10,000 hectares of the area produce three times in 18 months, then Sarawak will be able to produce 200,000 tonnes of hybrid paddy a year, then we achieve 80% rice production for local needs in Sarawak alone," he said.

Date of Input: 09/10/2023 | Updated: 09/10/2023 | lanz