Kota kinabalu: The Sabah Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry will implement initiatives to enhance padi productivity in six main districts, namely Kota Belud, Kota Marudu, Tuaran, Tambunan, Keningau, and Papar, the State Legislative Assembly was told today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Assistant Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Hendrus Anding revealed that the Sabah Rice and Padi Board (LPBS) has earmarked 121.4 hectares of padi fields in Tambunan for a pilot project aimed at modern high-yield padi farming. This initiative will employ full automation and mechanisation, alongside scheduled water management strategies. The ministry, through the Department of Agriculture, is implementing various initiatives to enhance the productivity and quality of agricultural products such as fruits, coffee, and padi in the state.

The Quality Padi Production Scheme is being rolled out through the development of seed production satellite farms, particularly focusing on the TR8 variety, supported by three padi seed production centres located in Papar, Tenom, and Kota Belud. This was in response to a query from Datuk Rubin Balang (GRS-Kemabong), who sought information on the ministry’s efforts to boost crop yields, particularly for fruits, coffee, and padi in the state.

Hendrus further disclosed that the ministry is undertaking a restoration project involving 7,392 hectares of abandoned padi fields in stages, with 437.57 hectares successfully restored last year. Additionally, the ministry has launched the Two-Season-a-Year Planting Campaign in selected padi fields using the Rice Check technology package and the Centralised Management Farming System.

In a bid to enhance agricultural productivity and food security, the ministry initiated the Sabah State-Level Rural Agricultural Economic Revolution in Tambunan on April 28. This project aims to bolster community participation in agriculture. Hendrus highlighted that the expansion of agricultural mechanisation and automation initiatives, through modern technology such as ploughing machinery, drones, and the Internet of Things (IoT), is set to improve farm operation efficiency.

This approach addresses labour shortages and enhances precision and safety in applying agricultural inputs, including fertiliser and pesticide spraying.