KUCHING – Sarawak requires an estimated RM2.5 billion to upgrade agricultural infrastructure and improve domestic rice production as the state works towards reducing its dependence on imported rice.
Sarawak Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said existing irrigation and water reservoir infrastructure covered approximately 9,900 hectares of agricultural land.
The area has the potential to contribute towards the state’s target of achieving a 60 per cent rice self-sufficiency level (SSL) by 2030, provided the necessary infrastructure improvements are carried out.
However, only 11 per cent of the covered area is currently being utilised, with ageing infrastructure and facilities requiring reconstruction limiting the productive use of the land.
Dr Rundi highlighted the infrastructure requirements during his ministry’s concluding remarks at the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting on Monday.
His remarks focused on the investment needed to strengthen agricultural capacity and make better use of existing rice-growing areas.
The proposed RM2.5 billion investment reflects the scale of infrastructure work required to support the state’s longer-term rice production objectives.
Improving irrigation systems, restoring water storage facilities and rehabilitating agricultural infrastructure are important steps in ensuring that cultivated areas receive a more reliable water supply for rice farming.
The availability and management of water are particularly important for paddy cultivation, which depends on suitable growing conditions throughout the planting cycle.
Infrastructure improvements can help farmers make more effective use of available farmland, although achieving higher production will also depend on factors such as farm management, planting practices and the effective implementation of agricultural programmes.
Under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), 23 agricultural infrastructure projects covering 2,997 hectares have been approved at a combined cost of RM136.9 million, Dr Rundi said.
Of the approved allocation, RM122.9 million is being provided by the Sarawak Government for 21 projects, while the Federal Government is contributing RM14 million towards the remaining two projects.
The projects form part of ongoing efforts to improve the infrastructure supporting agricultural activities across the state.
The approved projects represent a more immediate programme of investment alongside the broader RM2.5 billion requirement identified for infrastructure upgrades.
However, the available figures do not establish how much of the wider funding requirement has already been secured or how long the complete upgrading programme will take.
Sarawak’s 2030 rice self-sufficiency target places greater emphasis on increasing domestic output and making existing agricultural land more productive.
A higher level of local production could help reduce the state’s exposure to imported rice supplies, although the extent of that reduction will depend on the additional output achieved over time.
The limited utilisation of the existing 9,900-hectare irrigation and reservoir coverage highlights the importance of addressing infrastructure constraints before the full production potential of those areas can be realised.
Rebuilding the facilities could provide the foundation for expanding cultivation, but progress towards the 60 per cent target will depend on implementation, funding and the ability to bring more land into productive use.
The next stage will require the approved projects to translate into functioning facilities that support farmers and improve cultivation capacity. The RM2.5 billion estimate sets out the scale of the challenge facing Sarawak as it seeks to strengthen food security and increase rice production by 2030. — Sarawak Daily
