Dr Rundi shows his ministerial winding-up speech. — Photo by Chimon Upon

KUCHING (Nov 19): Projects under the Sarawak Paddy Infrastructure Development programme will commence in 2025 and 2026, said Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.

The Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development said as preparation, approximately 14,000 hectares of land have been identified for the programme throughout Kuching, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Kapit, Mukah, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang divisions.

“These areas will be developed up to tertiary infrastructure that enables the full potential of farm mechanisation and implementation for five planting seasons within two years.

“These projects will be implemented in phases, with 18 projects in Kuching, Serian, Sri Aman, Tanjung Sebekut in Betong, Sarikei, Mukah, Kapit, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang divisions, commencing concurrently in 2025; and the remaining 22 projects will commence in 2026,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech today.

Apart from the RM1 billion Sarawak Paddy Infrastructure Development Programme, he said an allocation of RM46 million has been approved under ‘Project Rakyat’ to upgrade the drainage and irrigation in Mid-Sadong I Scheme in Lubok Punggor, Samarahan.

The project, he added, will be awarded this month with a contract period of 10 months, and will be launched on Nov 29 by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Dr Rundi also said a new project by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) at Selepong in Sri Aman has been approved with an allocation of RM40 million, with the appointment of its consultant currently in progress.

To support over 14,000 hectares of commercial paddy cultivation for five seasons within two years, he said the estimated requirement for quality paddy seeds is approximately 5,000 metric tonnes annually.

He said to date, 140 hectares of paddy seed farm have been established at Stumbin in Sri Aman for the production of inbred paddy seed, under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture.

“To meet the paddy seed demand, my ministry will collaborate with government agencies and private companies to drive the paddy seed industry which is set to commence in 2025.

“One-hundred hectares of land at Lubok Teranggas, Samarahan is also being developed as the first Hybrid Seed Farm in Sarawak by a private company,” he added.