Sarawak becomes first state to mass produce perennial rice

Sarawak has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first state in Malaysia to successfully mass produce perennial rice, a development hailed as a potential game-changer by Premier Abang Johari Openg. This breakthrough could enable the state to potentially become a rice-exporting region akin to Thailand, currently a rice-exporting powerhouse.

Premier Openg revealed that Sarawak presently meets only 21% of its rice demand, with the rest being imported. The advent of perennial rice technology could help bridge this gap, possibly allowing the state to both fulfill local needs and even become an exporter. The technology, which allows rice to regrow season after season without the need for reseeding, was initially met with scepticism by the premier, who later expressed his amazement at the pilot project's success.

The pilot, conducted by Borneoland Paddy Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Yunnan University, commenced in Kuala Baram, Miri. Following the successful trial, the Sarawak government has pledged to continue backing research and the technology's expansion through various ministries and authorities, including the food industry, commodity, regional development, and Land Custody and Development Authority.

The success of the pilot project has also sparked enthusiasm for future cultivation areas, with potential sites identified including the Limbang-Lawas Valley, Gedong, Lingga, Daro, and Jemoreng.