MAFFI Wants Schools Promote Food Security Awareness Among Students

17 Jun 2026

TENOM : The Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Food Industry (MAFFI) wants schools to help promote awareness on food self-sufficiency among students in Sabah.

Its Minister, Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said in order for the State to achieve a sound food security status, its people must be taught to be food self-sufficient from early age, and schools are perfectly position to do this.

"MAFFI has submitted a proposal to the State Education Department for a joint effort in promoting agricultural activities in schools.

"Awareness on food security should start at a very early age so that our younger generation can fully grasp the importance of meeting our daily food demand through a strong agricultural sector and by planting our own food," he said to the reporters after a Teachers' Day and Kaamatan celebration at SMK Saint Anthony here, on Monday.

He noted a number of government schools in Sabah are already offering "Kemahiran Pertanian" (Agricultural Skills) as a subject to Form 4 students.

"However, there are still schools that do not have a subject related to agriculture.

"For these schools, we would like to see the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) to actively help the school (in promoting food security awareness to students)," he quipped.

Jamawi, who is also Melalap assemblyman assured MAFFI will provide consultation whenever needed and that all officers and agencies under the ministry has been directed to assist the schools involved.

He expressed hope that the proposed collaboration can be fully realized and, if successful, be expanded further next year.

"For this year, we just start with awareness first and hopefully we can go ahead with the actual implementation in the coming years," he said.

At the event Jamawi earlier officiated the SM Saint Anthony Hydroponic Park run by the school's PTA chairman Mujani Haji Idris.

He also presented RM32,000 financial aid, receive on behalf of the school by Principal Samuel Stimin./Penerangan-