KUCHING – Sarawak is stepping up efforts to strengthen its rice production capacity, with a target of meeting 60 per cent of its rice requirements through self-sufficiency by 2030, supported by a new hybrid rice cultivation project involving 143 hectares of land in Meradong.
The project follows a 20-year land lease agreement between LCDA Agri Business and Onemas Agriculture. The collaboration is expected to introduce modern agricultural technology to improve rice yields and contribute to the state’s wider food security objectives.
Sarawak Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said greater private sector participation would be important in increasing local rice production and reducing reliance on external supplies. He highlighted the need to adopt improved cultivation methods to address challenges affecting the state’s rice output.
Rundi also referred to a reported 21 per cent decline in Sarawak’s self-sufficiency level for rice, underscoring the importance of strengthening production through more efficient farming practices. The initiative is intended to support these efforts by combining public sector infrastructure provision with private sector operational expertise.
Under the proposed arrangement, the relevant public agency will provide supporting infrastructure, while operational responsibilities will be handled through the designated management structure. The partnership is expected to create a framework for applying modern farming techniques and improving productivity across the cultivated area.
The hybrid rice component is a central feature of the initiative. Onemas Agriculture’s hybrid rice cultivation operations have reportedly recorded yields of 11.08 metric tonnes per hectare, compared with historical yields of approximately 1.5 to two metric tonnes per hectare.
However, the reported results relate to the company’s cultivation experience and should not be taken as a guarantee that the same output will be achieved across all areas of the project.
The difference in reported yields highlights the potential contribution of improved crop varieties and modern farming methods to agricultural productivity. Actual results will depend on factors such as soil conditions, water availability, crop management, weather and the consistent application of appropriate cultivation practices.
Beyond the initial 143-hectare project, the state is also considering a wider expansion of rice cultivation. Rundi outlined plans involving an allocation of RM1 billion for the development of the rice industry across 14,000 hectares of land in Sebaka, although further implementation details were not provided in the supplied information.
A separate development approach involving 2,000 hectares has also been identified under a Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) arrangement. Under this model, project delivery and operations are organised within a defined contractual framework before the completed facilities or operations are transferred according to the agreed terms. The specific implementation schedule and responsibilities for the proposed scheme were not detailed.
The wider programme reflects the state’s intention to increase domestic food production through land development, infrastructure investment and collaboration with agricultural businesses.
Achieving the 2030 self-sufficiency target will require sustained improvements in productivity, effective project management and coordination among the agencies and companies involved.
The lease agreement was witnessed in the presence of several state officials and elected representatives, including Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Deputy Minister Datuk Martin Ben, Meradong assemblyman Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing, and officials from the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development and the Land Custody and Development Authority.
The long-term impact of the initiative will depend on the implementation of the cultivation programme, the performance of the hybrid rice varieties and the pace of subsequent agricultural developments. The project forms part of Sarawak’s broader effort to improve rice availability and build a more resilient domestic food supply as it works towards its 2030 target. â Sarawak Daily
