Kitchen Garden Tour Boosts Sabah’s Food Security Drive

15 February 2026

TUARAN: The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, said the Kitchen Garden Initiative introduced by his ministry is among the strategic measures to strengthen the state’s food security and empower household economies, particularly in rural areas.

He said the programme helps raise public awareness of the importance of producing their own food, including the cultivation of vegetables and herbs, small-scale livestock rearing and household freshwater fish farming.

According to him, the practice of kitchen gardening has long been part of community life and is now being continued in a more structured manner as part of the state government’s ongoing efforts to reinforce food security and empower communities through practical, easily implemented small-scale agricultural approaches with immediate impact.

“In the current challenging economic climate and rising cost of living, the ability of households to produce part of their own food requirements is a wise and strategic move,” he said at the launch of the MAFFI Kitchen Garden Tour at the Padang Istiadat here today.

Jamawi said part of the kitchen garden produce can also be marketed to generate supplementary income. To date, 16 Agricultural Produce Collection Centres (APCC) have been established, with nine more to be completed to cover all parliamentary constituencies in the state.

He said the kitchen garden approach enables families to cultivate vegetables and short-term crops in a planned manner while undertaking small-scale fish farming.

“This will help reduce daily household expenditure and has the potential to generate additional income for families,” he said.

He also expressed his appreciation and thanks to the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who was present to lend his support and encouragement to participants in the programme.

In addition, he acknowledged the commitment of all parties involved, including ministry-level committees, the Tuaran District Office, departments and agencies under the ministry, state and federal government agencies, private sector partners, local communities and individuals who contributed to the success of the initiative.

Meanwhile, Jamawi said the second initiative under the Kitchen Garden programme is a Mentor-Mentee Programme involving 18 young individuals aged 40 and below who were selected as mentors.

He congratulated all appointed mentors and agricultural entrepreneurs participating in the programme.

“These mentors will guide and develop young people interested in venturing into kitchen gardening and agriculture,” he said.

According to him, the effort clearly demonstrates the government’s strong commitment to empowering household economies through small-scale agricultural activities that are easy to implement, deliver quick results and have the potential to become an additional source of income.

Jamawi also informed that several financial agencies are offering loan facilities to youths and agricultural entrepreneurs, including Sabah Credit Corporation, which provides loans of up to RM50,000 at zero or low interest rates, as well as facilities from Yayasan Usaha Maju and Agrobank with interest rates as low as three per cent.

In addition, the third approach involves guiding entrepreneurs and food industry players, such as producers of amplang crackers and sambal, towards business digitalisation.

He noted that many entrepreneurs and celebrities in Peninsular Malaysia have successfully marketed their products digitally through platforms such as TikTok, and that the same approach can be adopted by local entrepreneurs.

“I see myself as a farmer, a livestock breeder and a smallholder. I also want my officers to share the same spirit and to be more attentive to the needs of local communities,” he said.

Also present were the Chairman of the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC), who is also the State Assemblyman for Tamparuli and Member of Parliament for Tuaran; Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Datuk Haji Ruslan Muharam; Executive Chairman of Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd and State Assemblyman for Pantai Dalit Datuk Jasnih Daya; Chairman of Sabah Softwood Datuk Arsad Bistari; as well as general managers of departments and agencies under MAFFI.