KOTA KINABALU: About 15,000 farmers in Sabah will benefit from the Hill Padi Subsidy, which was tabled in the 2105 Budget, said state Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin.
The state has between 7,000ha and 11,000ha of hill padi fields in interior areas, such as Tongod, Telupid, Beluran, Pitas, Kota Marudu, Ranau, Penampang, Tambunan, Keningau, Tenom and Sipitang.
“Every year, the fields yield between 10,500 and 22,000 tonnes of padi. Hopefully, with the RM70 million subsidy for Sabah (and Sarawak), the state government can work on reducing the amount of imported rice,” he said, adding that Sabah was 30 per cent self-sufficient for rice.
Former state footballer Andrew Laban is looking forward to opening up more land to plant hill padi in Long Pasia, Sipitang.
Andrew, who has 2ha of hill padi planted for his own consumption, said the RM70 million subsidy announced in the budget caught his attention.
“A lot of work goes into planting hill padi, but if it comes with some assistance, it may encourage us to plant more,” he said.
“Traditionally, the Lundayeh and Murut communities have planted hill padi, which we call adan, from the days of our forefathers. But what we grow is for our consumption.
“In the upper reaches of Sipitang, hill padi is also planted in Long Mio, Maligan, Ulu Bol and Kiburu.”
Kota Kinabalu native chief Rocky Mabin said many indigenous hill communities would benefit from the subsidy.
“In this district, there is about 100ha of hill padi in Tombongong, Telipok Darat, Kolosunon, Ruminding and Poring-Poring. But there are more areas not cultivated and this (subsidy) will encourage people to plant.”
Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai also welcomed the subsidy, saying it would boost the production of food in the state.