LUNDU: The Tebaro Paddy Field Project here is set to further strengthen community food security as part of efforts to reduce reliance on increasingly challenging imported rice supplies amid current global conditions.
Opar assemblyman, Billy Sujang, said the project marks the first paddy field development initiative in the area under the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency (GKCDA).
He said that the initiative has been planned since 2023 through a series of workshops and discussions involving the local community and relevant agencies, with about 51 paddy farmers identified in the area.
“In an uncertain global environment, food supply – especially rice – has become a strategic necessity. We cannot rely entirely on imports; instead, we must strive to cultivate our own for future security,” he said in an UKAS report during the site handover ceremony in Kampung Tebaro recently.
He added that the Sarawak Government has also allocated significant funding to strengthen the agriculture sector, including paddy development, with the potential to transform the area into a future rice seed production centre.
The project involves an initial allocation of RM2.5 million for basic infrastructure such as drainage systems, farm roads, and other supporting facilities to ensure farming operations can be carried out more systematically and effectively.
In another development, he said the paddy infrastructure in Jugan, Bau, will be upgraded to create a more systematic and viable paddy cultivation area, encouraging more local residents to venture into commercial rice farming.
He said the upgrading project includes the provision of essential infrastructure such as farm roads, drainage systems, and more efficient water resource management to ensure the fields can be cultivated optimally throughout the year.
“Previously, the area depended solely on seasons and water conditions, resulting in inconsistent yields. However, with this project, we aim to turn it into a truly productive paddy field,” he said.
He added that RM3.5 million has been allocated for the initiative, with the contract value exceeding RM3.2 million following a technical evaluation process.
Meanwhile, Billy noted that the number of paddy farmers in Kampung Jugan has increased from around 30 to 40 previously to more than 100 currently, reflecting growing community confidence in the sector’s development potential.
He added that improved and well-structured infrastructure will enable the area to support up to two planting seasons per year, while also boosting rice yields that were previously affected by water supply constraints.
“Once this infrastructure is fully completed, we aim not only to increase rice production but also to position this area as one of Sarawak’s rice seed production centres,” he said.
At the same time, he did not rule out the possibility of expanding the project to nearby areas, including Kampung Tembawang, in the next phase, subject to additional funding and community readiness.
