High-impact programmes to increase food security in Sabah
by The Borneo Post · Borneo Post OnlineTAMBUNAN (Dec 21): The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry (MAFFI) will continue to strengthen food crop cultivation and livestock development through the implementation of high-impact programmes aimed at increasing people’s income and reinforcing the state’s food security.
Its minister, Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, said sustained efforts by the Department of Agriculture and related agencies would help uplift the quality of life of Sabahans more holistically.
He said this when officiating the closing exhibition of the Forest Conservation of Water Catchment Areas and Sustainable Agriculture Empowerment Project at Kampung Kuyungon here on Friday.
Jamawi expressed his appreciation to the organisers for the invitation and the opportunity to engage with the local community, praising Kampung Kuyungon as one of the most progressive villages in the Tambunan district.
Among the village’s notable achievements, he said, was its status as the first village in Tambunan to develop a Community Protocol, as well as being recognised as an official cultural reference village for future generations through collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia.
In addition, Kampung Kuyungon has successfully developed the longest and most extensive jungle trail network in Tambunan, alongside the establishment of community-based tourism (CoBT) and the development of community agribusiness initiatives.
Jamawi said he was also informed that residents of Kampung Kuyungon had implemented the kitchen garden (Kebun Dapur) concept as an effort to support household-level food supply sustainability.
He noted that kitchen gardens are among the three new initiatives introduced by the ministry to strengthen community-based agriculture.
“Strengthening the Kitchen Garden Programme is expected to increase agricultural output and community participation across all levels in the agricultural sector towards achieving food security.
“The programme focuses on small-scale crop cultivation, fisheries and livestock, depending on land suitability and household capacity, with special emphasis on youth involvement,” he said.
Jamawi also congratulated the youths of Kampung Kuyungon who chose to return to their village to develop agriculture-based businesses.
He said the second initiative introduced by the ministry is the Agriculture Mentor-Mentee Programme, designed to identify active young farmers and enable them to guide and mentor the next generation to venture into the agricultural sector.
The third initiative, he said, involves encouraging food industry entrepreneurs to participate in the digital economy to expand markets and increase income in line with current developments.
According to Jamawi, the digital economy approach also has the potential to produce more capable youths in food production and processing, enabling them to generate sustainable income.
He also announced that Kampung Kuyungon has been selected as a model village for MAFFI in realising these aspirations, adding that he would visit other districts to explore the potential of other villages.
Jamawi expressed hope that all objectives outlined through the organisation of the programme would be successfully achieved, and extended his appreciation to all parties involved in ensuring its success.
Also present were Keningau assemblyman Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey G Kitingan, Tambunan district officer Sobitun Makajil, Tambunan chief, and OKK Philip Datuk Kitingan.
After the event, Jamawi, accompanied by the ministry’s permanent secretary Datuk Leonard Stephen Poyong and Sabah Paddy and Rice Board (LPBS) chief executive officer Datuk Dr Madiyem Layapan, visited a trial plot of hybrid rice from Wuhan, China, at Kampung Rompon, Tambunan.