By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is projected to generate between RM2 billion and RM3 billion in economic value from a six-year Rural Agricultural Economic Revolution (RAER) programme.
The programme, undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry (MAFFI), is targeting 100,000 rural participants.
It will be officially launched on 1 May 2025 in Tambunan, in conjunction with the Sabah Kaamatan Festival, MAFFI said in a statement.
This initiative encompasses several programmes, including agriculture, fisheries, livestock, entrepreneurship, and downstream industries.
Approved by Sabah’s Cabinet, the programme will run from 2025 to 2030, beginning with an initial allocation of RM10 million in the first year.
The initiative is set to directly benefit rural communities across Sabah, with a long-term vision of building resilient and productive rural economies to boost the state’s growth.
RAER’s core objectives include increasing agricultural productivity to enhance food security in Sabah and diversifying household income sources.
It also aims to reduce rural unemployment and stimulate inclusive and sustainable economic growth across Sabah’s countryside.
MAFFI will coordinate with other ministries, departments, government agencies, GLCs, GLICs, academic institutions, private sector partners, and community organisations to implement the programmes.
These multiple implementing anchors are designed to foster inter-agency coordination and ensure delivery excellence across its components.
The initiative is founded on the belief that rural transformation must be a collective effort, involving policymakers, civil servants, community leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, and local residents.
This aligns with the “Unity is Duty” slogan, encouraging all Sabahans to participate in the state’s rural revitalisation movement.
