MIRI: Sarawak’s first trial of perennial rice has shown encouraging progress, with its maiden harvest scheduled for Aug 6.
Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said six trial plots have been established in Kuala Baram, with the crop performing according to expectations.
He said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is expected to officiate at the first harvest.
“The rice we inspected today took only about two and a half months to mature and is now ready for harvesting.
“We planted it two and a half months ago, and today it is already ready to be harvested.
“I have tasted the grain and it is good, but we still need to conduct further evaluations, including taste tests on several samples,” he said in a news report by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas).
He was visiting the perennial rice trial plot operated by Borneoland Paddy Sdn Bhd in Kuala Baram yesterday (July 14).
Rundi said the uniform growth of the crop and its ability to adapt to local soil and climatic conditions were among the encouraging early indicators.
“The most important thing is that the crop can grow well here. Next, we will assess its yield before determining whether it can be expanded to other areas, including Jemoreng,” he said.
He said the project is a research collaboration between the Sarawak government and Yunnan University, China, involving 30 perennial rice varieties to identify one or two that are best suited for cultivation in Sarawak.
If successful, he said seed production would be carried out in Sarawak in accordance with biosecurity protocols before being introduced to farmers, including through contract farming.
Rundi said perennial rice has the potential to produce up to four harvests a year after reaching maturity, offering a significant boost to the state’s rice productivity.
