SARAWAK would have the capability to produce 80% of its rice needs via a hybrid padi planting pilot project, with yields due in three to five years, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg said.

He said the project would take place in Lubok Punggor in Gedong, Tanjung Bijat in Sri Aman, Spaoh in Betong, and Tanjung Purun in Lundu, with a total land area of 10,000ha.

“If we plant 10,000ha with hybrid padi, we will be able to harvest 200,000 tonnes (of rice) a year and produce 80% of the rice needed in Sarawak,” he told reporters after visiting the project site in Kampung Lubok Punggor today.

The premier said the hybrid padi varieties were developed by experts from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) using various seedling types from Vietnam that can yield three times more padi than normal varieties.

He said the two types of hybrid padi were developed by UPM with the collaboration of a private company, Global Farm Biotech Sdn Bhd.

Abang Johari said currently, Sarawak’s rice production was only able to meet 34% of local rice demand. Data from Padiberas Nasional Bhd showed the state produced 83,000 tonnes of rice and imported 145,468 tonnes.

He said the hybrid padi project would be expanded to other areas in the state.

“We want the federal government to help us prepare infrastructure, and by 2030, maybe Sarawak will become the rice bowl of Malaysia and start exporting rice,” he said. – Bernama, October 6, 2023.