State government refining process to import rice seeds and export rice

SRI AMAN, Dec 20 25: The Sarawak government through the Ministry of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development (M-FICORD) is refining the process to enable the state to import rice seeds and export rice, Premier Abang Johari Openg said.

Abang Johari Openg: Rice industry in the Sri Aman Division will be developed using ‘perennial rice’ seeds which have the potential to guarantee higher and sustainable harvests. 

He said discussions on the matter are being held with the federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security  since currently rice import and export affairs are only handled by Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS).

“So we want an investment where our rice board will be given permission to export rice and import seeds for our rice production,” he  told reporters after officiating the Sarawak Sri Aman Islamic Complex  today.

Abang Johari said the Sarawak government has basically agreed to establish the Sarawak Rice Board which will manage and coordinate the industry related to rice and rice production in the state.

He said rice industry in the Sri Aman Division will be developed using ‘perennial rice’ seeds which have the potential to guarantee higher and sustainable harvests.

The premier also said that the new coastal road connecting Kuching to Sri Aman Division is expected to shorten the travel time to around one hour when it is fully completed.

He said that the shortening of the travel distance would not only save time, but also make it easier for produce and products from Sri Aman to be sent directly to Kuching.

He explained that the coastal road would also open up wider access to the new port and airport in Tanjung Embang for export to the international market.

“We provide easy and comfortable mobility for our community, where they will be connected, and this opens up many opportunities for them.

“Residents in Sri Aman, for example, can start something new, sell products to Kuching, go to Tanjung Embang, and even go abroad because Tanjung Embang will be a major hub that includes our port and the new airport,” he said.

He added that the coastal road will be developed as a four-lane route starting from the Sejingkat Bridge to Kota Samarahan, then heading to Tanjung Embang, Sebuyau and Lingga before being connected to Gedong via the Pan Borneo Highway.