MIRI – Sarawak, with a population of just over 2.5 million, has already had to fork out at least RM4.65 billion for foods that are imported since January 1 this year.
The high cost has raised consternation in the state government about how it can prevent unnecessary costs by making Sarawak more self-sufficient.
State Minister for Food Industries, Commodities and Agricultural Modernisation, Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, said that the state government is spending a hefty amount to import foodstuffs, in particular rice and vegetables.
"Our food import bill so far this year is about RM4.65 bil, with rice and vegetables the main items we have to import from overseas.
"We are spending a lot of money to import food because our level of self-sufficiency for rice is only at 34% and our self sufficiency for vegetables at only 37%.
"The bulk of Sarawak's needs for rice and vegetables has to come from overseas.
"My ministry is adopting numerous strategies to produce more local food to ensure our food security," he said at the launch of the Safe Food exhibition in Sibu today.
His speech was read out by his deputy Michael Ben.
Sarawak wants to be a food exporter by 2030, he stressed.
"Our aim is to drastically cut down the import bill by raising local production.
"This will enhance our food security, turn food items into a key gross domestic product (GDP) contributor and make Sarawak a food exporter by 2030," he added.
The state government had previously said that it will review the rice and paddy production policy to facilitate the development of these items' production.
Utom had announced in May this year that the aim was to produce 60% of the state’s self-sufficient level (SSL) by 2030.
“Currently, the SSL for rice stands at 34% as compared to 42% in 2020,” he was quoted by Malay Mail as saying in the state assembly.
He reportedly explained that the decline in rice production over the years was due to the lack of paddy tertiary farm infrastructure, the high cost of production, aging farmers, and stiff competition for land from other lucrative crops.
The agriculture development trend in the state has been more on commodity crops, mainly oil palm rather than food crops, contributing to the problem of inadequate food self-sufficiency. – The Vibes, October 12, 2023
