Dryland rice a new focus to boost Sabah’s food security

18 May 2026

KOTA KINABALU: Dryland rice cultivation has become one of the main focuses of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry (MAFFI) as part of efforts to strengthen Sabah’s food security.

Its Minister, Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, said the approach has great potential as an alternative to paddy-field cultivation, particularly in areas lacking adequate irrigation systems.

He said the ministry is planning to introduce dryland rice growing more widely, including in pots and polybags around homes.

“We are planning to introduce dryland rice that can be grown around the home, including in pots or polybags. If the varietal trials currently under way are successful, we will launch the scheme in the near future,” he said to reporters at the Kaamatan 2026 celebration at the Sabah Agriculture House concourse today.

Jamawi said the initiative forms part of efforts to strengthen the Kitchen Garden Initiative, which has already begun to show positive results among rural communities.

“I have observed that over the past three to four months, since we promoted kitchen gardens, some farmers and villagers have tried planting dryland rice around their homes,” he said.

He added that the Agriculture Department has already conducted trials on several rice varieties suitable for cultivation with minimal water use.

The results of those trials will be used to expand the adoption of the crop across the state.

He emphasised that the effort is important because Sabah remains heavily dependent on rice imports, which account for about 80 per cent of consumption.

“When global crises occur, such as conflicts or rising transport costs, food supplies can be disrupted. We must therefore be prepared now,” he said.

He noted that dryland rice is also suitable for K3-category areas that rely entirely on rainfall.

“K3 areas do not have complete irrigation systems, so dryland rice cultivation is one of the best solutions to be utilised,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the ministry has instructed all relevant agencies to intensify efforts to find new approaches to ensure the state’s food supply remains sufficient.

He said, besides rice, the Government is also focusing on producing animal feed crops such as maize to reduce dependence on imports.

However, he stressed that developing dryland rice will remain a priority because of its strong potential and its suitability for small-scale cultivation by local communities.

“This is one of the initiatives we will continue to strengthen from time to time to ensure the state’s food security is preserved,” he said.

Jamawi also expressed his appreciation to everyone involved in this year’s festival.

Several competitions were also held, including Sugandoi, traditional food, best-decorated stall and ‘Basaan togingo’ (best-dressed) for men and women.

Also present were the Assistant Minister, Datuk Haji Ruslan Muharam; Chairman of the Sabah Rubber Industry Board (LGIS), Datuk Seri Jahid Jahim; Deputy Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry, Awang Dzulkernain Awang Hassan and Maria David Edick as Acting Chair of the Executive Committee; and directors of MAFFI departments and agencies.