- nabalunews
GOVT SHOULD INITIATE PROGRAMMES TO STRENGTHEN FOOD PRODUCTION AND SECURITY - JANNIE LASIMBANG
4 Feb 2021
KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government should initiate programmes that would strengthen food production and food security, said Sabah DAP Woman Chief Jannie Lasimbang.
She said it is right for such programmes to be held with the Movement Control Order (MCO) extended, serious economic crisis ongoing and food packages not reaching vulnerable groups in Sabah.
“I am collaborating with PACOS TRUST, Kivatu Nature Farm and Wanita DAP Penampang to encourage women to start kitchen gardens in Kapayan.
"Today, we started giving out planting materials in the forms of vegetable, herbs and fruit seeds, seedlings, as well as composts and potting soil to 30 women and 2 housing areas to start their Kitchen Garden,” she said in a statement here, today.
According to Jannie who is also Kapayan State Assemblywoman, the free planting materials came together with information and tips on gardening for women with small garden plots and for those living in apartments and housing areas to start an urban garden.
Meanwhile, the coordinator of Kivatu Nature Farm Maria Benedict said: "Kitchen Gardens not only provide fresh vegetables and herbs for the family but it is a way to reduce organic kitchen wastes, while gardening can contribute to mental cognitive functioning and emotional well-being."
“Besides that, self-grown crops are more nutritious and safe than buying them on the market. It can also help families to find side incomes by selling their plants and vegetables,” she added.
It was learned that she has also contributed to the successful re-opening of several acres of paddy fields in Tenghilan using the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in an effort to boost food security and food production.
Philip Chin of PACOS TRUST said these seeds and seedlings from were bought by the trust from local farmers using funds under its sustainable food production programme.
"The programme has the capacity to provide materials and expertise on the long-term as well, to strengthen farmers' food security and sustain food production epecially during this pandemic," he said.
