Mini Paddy Estates to Boost Self-Sufficiency and Revive Idle Lands

10 March 2026

KOTA BELUD: A mini paddy estate approach will be implemented to raise Sabah’s paddy self-sufficiency level (SSL) while cultivating the state’s idle lands.

Sabah’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, said the initiative was discussed during an engagement session with various state and federal agricultural agencies.

The session, which he chaired that morning, involved the Director of the Federal Ministry of Economy’s Agriculture Division, Datuk Zul Hadi Ahmad, and other key agricultural agencies.

“We discussed developing around 2,000 hectares of idle land using the mini estate approach,” he told reporters while visiting the Timbang Menggaris Paddy Seed Production Centre here today.

Jamawi said the development of these idle lands through mini estates is expected to be funded by the Federal Government via the Ministry of Economy.

“With this mini estate initiative, insya-Allah funded by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Economy, we can develop more idle lands. Crucially, our farmers will reap harvests, cultivate their long-abandoned fields, and generate income,” he added.

He affirmed that the Sabah Government will continue collaborating with the Federal Government to develop the paddy industry in Sabah.

“We will do our utmost for Sabah’s people and maintain close cooperation between the state and federal governments to advance the state’s paddy industry,” he said.

Also present were Pintasan assemblyman Datuk Fairuz Renddan; Deputy Chairman of the Sabah Paddy and Rice Board (LPBS), Datuk Haji Musbah Haji Jamli; Deputy Permanent Secretary of MAFFI, Awang Dzulkernain Awang Hassan; Director of the Department of Agriculture, Datuk Ts. Jifrin Hj. Mohamad; General Manager of LPBS, Datuk Dr. Ramle Haji Kasin; along with officers from the Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA) implementation, and agencies under MAFFI and the Federal Government.