THE Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and its eight Departments/Agencies have worked hard over the past year to realise the achievement of Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) aspiration which celebrates its first anniversary on March 29, 2022.
Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey G. Kitingan said as many as 137 initiatives have been outlined for the agricultural sector which is a crucial hub for the development of SMJ.
The rest of the interview:
What steps are the Ministry taking to ensure food security in Sabah, especially in essential items like rice, chicken, fish and pork?
The government is carrying out all the strategies necessary to strengthen Sabah’s agricultural sector and ensure that food supplies like rice and milk remain stable. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has developed four major initiatives to increase rice production and achieve a rice self-sufficiency level (SSL) of 60 per cent by 2030.
The Sabah Rubber Industry Board (LIGS) introduced the Monsoon Assistance (BMT) and Additional Economic Activity Program (AET) to help smallholders maintain their source of income throughout the season