GEDONG: The Sarawak Government's initiative in initiating hybrid rice cultivation is believed to meet the needs of the people of the state by up to 80 percent.

"The hybrid rice species that is being studied by Universiti Putra Malaysia and 'Global Farm Biotech' is able to produce 200,000 tonnes of rice per 10,000 hectares within a year, so we can meet the consumption of Sarawakians by 80 percent," he explained.

He said this in a press conference after hearing a briefing from Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu and 'Global Farm Biotech' in conjunction with his working visit to the Paddy Cultivation Project in Kampung Lubok Punggor on Friday.

Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari added that the previous cultivation of paddy in Sarawak could only reach 34 percent of the people's consumption and the rest was imported rice.

Hence, in order to reduce the dependence on imported rice and control the price of rice in Sarawak, the government will focus on the research done by the two institutions.

Meanwhile, he did not deny that with the availability of the hybrid seeds, Sarawak could become a rice exporting state in the future.

"If we increase our land area to be used as rice fields, maybe we can also become rice exporters in the future," he said.

Until now, there are four areas that have been identified as rice fields, namely Tanjung Bijat Sri Aman, kawasan Spaoh in Betong, Tanjung Purun in Lundu dand Kampung Lubok Punggor in Gedong.

Pioneering trials of rice cultivation of 538 and 238 hybrid species in Lubok Punggor Village have shown positive development where the results have been harvested and given to Premier Sarawak as souvenirs.

Also present were Minister of Food, Commodity Industry and Sarawak Provincial Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Sarawak Government Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister for Rural and Provincial Progress Malaysia, Datuk Rubiah Wang, Batang Sadong Member of Parliament Rodiyah Sapiee, Member of the State Legislative Council (ADUN) Pakan Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, special representative of ADUN Gedong Datuk Mohamad Naroden Majais, Samarahan City Division Resident Mohamad Irwan Bahari Bujang, Sarawak Land and Survey Department Director Datu Abdullah Julaihi and other invited guests. - Source of News : EDISI UKAS

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