KUCHING: Sarawak recorded RM23.4 billion in sales from the country’s total paddy sales, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup.
He said the state had the second-highest number of agricultural holdings in Malaysia, with 147,414 holdings nationwide.
In the paddy sector Sarawak ranked second after Kedah, with 14,394 paddy holdings, representing 11.4 per cent of the country’s total.
“This reality shows that Sarawak not only has vast potential but has also made significant progress through the integrated implementation of both state and federal policies,” he said in his welcoming speech at the 2025 National Paddy Conference (PADI), officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at a hotel here on Tuesday (Aug 12).
He also expressed his admiration for the vision and direction of Abang Johari in driving the agenda to make Sarawak the nation’s largest rice bowl by 2030.
He said the implementation of large-scale agricultural transformation plans in strategic areas such as Gedong, Lingga, Stumbin, Simunjan, and Lundu has proven the effectiveness of modern technology, achieving yields of up to eight metric tonnes per hectare.
“These efforts not only ensure the state’s food security but also have the potential to make Sarawak one of the country’s main rice producers — an achievement that reflects the strong commitment of the Sarawak government under his leadership,” he added.
In addition, progress in the sector is also driven by research and development (R&D) by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), which has introduced new paddy varieties such as MR CL3 and MR CL4, designed to address the problem of weedy rice that often affects yields in Sarawak.
Another use of new varieties includes the adoption of the Kesidang variety, which is suitable for planting in non-granary areas and lowland swamps.
He added that seed breeding projects for the MR 331 and MR 338 varieties are also being carried out in Skudup Chupak, which will serve as MARDI’s pilot project site in the future.
