KUCHING: The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) has become a key partner in Sarawak’s push to produce high-quality paddy seeds, a move Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg says is crucial to reducing the nation’s reliance on imported rice.
He said Sarawak’s vast land area and significant potential must be supported by the capability to produce paddy seeds suited to local soil conditions in order to strengthen national rice production.
“In terms of research, what matters most is applying your research findings in the field. If we have research but do not put it into use, it will not yield effective results.
“The harvest or yield should be the benchmark in the country’s paddy production because I believe it can help reduce our dependence on imports and supplies from overseas.
“If MARDI can help increase the supply of quality seeds for Sarawak, we can plant on a larger scale, produce more paddy, and ultimately reduce dependence on imports from Vietnam or Cambodia,” he said in his speech at the launch of the 2025 National Paddy Conference (PADI) here on Tuesday (Aug 12).
He added that the Sarawak government has identified 14,000 hectares of land for paddy cultivation, expected to produce 240,000 metric tonnes of rice.
Abang Johari said if this cultivation area is doubled, production could reach 500,000 metric tonnes.
“This is far more than what the people of Sarawak need and can be supplied to the rest of the country,” he said.
In addition, he said Sarawak is actively developing local fertiliser production by using palm oil by-products and gas to produce urea, so that paddy production does not rely entirely on imported fertiliser.
“If we can produce our own seeds and fertilisers, combined with modern methods and MARDI’s research support, Sarawak will not only achieve self-sufficiency but also help the country reduce its rice import bill,” he said.
