LPBS To Boost Sabah’s Food Self-Sufficiency Level

The Sabah Padi and Rice Board (Lembaga Padi dan Beras Sabah or LPBS) has been revived and it was officially launched on 10 May 2025. LPBS will take over all development and management of padi from the State Agricultural Department starting 2025. LPBS’ primary objective is to ensure Sabah achieves food Self-Sufficiency Level (SSL) of 30 percent and 60 percent by 2025 and 2030 respectively.

Presently, Sabah’s SSL is 22.8 percent of its local rice. The remaining shortfall is addressed through imported rice supplies. Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Industry, represented the CM at the simultaneous launch of LPBS and the Agrobank Padi Cultivation Takaful Scheme (STTP), on 10 May 2025 at Kota Belud.

In his message, Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said LPBS will focus the development and management of padi in six districts, namely Kota Marudu, Tuaran, Tambunan, Keningau, Papar and Kota Belud. The total area of padi fields in these districts is 22,218.35 hectares or 55,879 acres, involving 16,018 padi farmers.

Hajiji said that the State Government is also implementing several other initiatives, including emphasizing hill padi cultivation which is estimated that 13,266 hectares or 32,767 acres of hill land are suitable for padi cultivation, involving 15,617 farmers, potentially able to produce 30,424 metric tons of various species of hill rice annually, including the Adan rice from Long Pasia, Sipitang, Ranau, Kudat, and Pitas.

“The State Government is committed to developing idle padi fields and boosting padi yields and local rice the production,” Hajiji said. “The Padi Cultivation Takaful Scheme provides coverage to padi planters from crop damage due to natural disasters, pest attacks, and diseases.”