Kuching: The Sarawak Government must account for the outcomes of past paddy development projects before moving ahead with its new target of achieving 60 to 70 per cent rice self-sufficiency, said Jordan Soo Tien Ren.
The DAPSY Sarawak Deputy Chief said the Government’s plan to increase average paddy yield from about 1.2 metric tonnes per hectare per season to between eight and 12 metric tonnes was welcome but must be supported by a clear and measurable implementation plan.
Jordan cited the Batang Lupar NKEA Entry Point Project 11, launched in 2013, which targeted the development of about 5,100 hectares of paddy land involving 5,167 participants, with an estimated overall allocation of RM950 million.
However, figures presented in the State Legislative Assembly showed that between 2013 and 2025, primary and secondary infrastructure had been developed across only 1,306 hectares at a cost of RM148.7 million, benefiting 664 farmers.
“The question is not simply how much was allocated, but how much of the original plan was actually delivered,” he said.
Jordan acknowledged challenges involving Native Customary Rights (NCR) land, land realignment and land consolidation for mechanised farming, but said the Government must explain how these issues would be addressed under its new programme.
He noted that the State had approved a new RM1 billion Sarawak Paddy Infrastructure Development Programme covering about 14,000 hectares, with RM51 million allocated in 2025 for paddy infrastructure and another RM50 million for land acquisition.
Jordan also highlighted that Sarawak’s rice self-sufficiency level stood at about 32 per cent in 2023 before falling to around 21 per cent in 2024.
He urged the Government to publish a roadmap detailing the land, yield, planting cycles, irrigation, mechanisation, seed varieties and farmer participation required to achieve the 60 to 70 per cent target.
“The new target can be ambitious, but the Government must first show how much of the previous plan was completed and what will be done differently this time,” he said.
