Sarawak rice self-sufficiency and land management

The Sarawak government is pursuing a strategy to enhance rice self-sufficiency and food security through expanded paddy production and modernized agricultural technology. To bridge current productivity gaps, the state has identified approximately 14,000 hectares of land for development, with 7,000 hectares already gazetted. Efforts include researching improved seed varieties, such as hybrid and perennial rice, and investing in irrigation infrastructure.

To achieve a 60 per cent rice self-sufficiency level by 2030, officials estimate that RM2.5 billion is required to upgrade aging agricultural infrastructure. Current irrigation and water reservoir facilities cover roughly 9,900 hectares, but only 11 per cent of this area is currently utilized.

Parallel to these agricultural goals, the state is managing its environmental resources under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030. Sarawak maintains approximately 7.64 million hectares of forested areas, representing 62 per cent of the state. The government plans to gazette five new Fully Protected Areas by 2026 to expand its land-based conservation efforts.