KUCHING (Oct 26, 2011): Sarawak, with its vast land suitable for large scale padi cultivation, wants to be self-sufficient in rice.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang said striving towards self-sufficiency is for security reasons.
"The unpredictable weather pattern caused by global warming which disrupts rice production in major rice-producing countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand makes it crucial for us to strive for rice self-sufficiency," he said at the rice conference here today.
Jabu, who is also State Minister of Modernisation of Agrilculture, said the state needed to produce at least 65% of its rice consumption to reach the level of self-sufficiency.
Curently, Sarawak produces less than 50% of its rice needs while the shortfalls come from rice imported from Vietnam , Thailand and India.
Jabu said there were more than 100 varieties of rice grown and sold in the state, the most being the Bario, Biris, Bajong, Bali, Mamut, Selasih, Katek Merah, Lemak and Kenawit.
He said Bario rice, Sarawak Beras Bajong and Sarawak Beras Biris had been granted the Geographical Indications (GI) by the Malaysian Intellectual Property Organisation (MyIPO).
Bario rice is a unique fine grain rice with smooth glossy texture grown in the cool mountains of the Kelabit highlands while Beras Biris, a fragrant rice with a smooth and glossy texture is cultivated in Simunjan and Samarahan areas and Beras Bajong, an aromatic purple rice with distinctive taste and texture, is mainly planted by traditional paddy farmers in Lubok Nibong, Saratok.
The GI protection will provide entrepreneurs and consumers the assurance of authenticity and consistent product quality.
Jabu urged the various relevant agencies to get at least three more rice varieties to obtain the GI within the next three years.
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