By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: The TR8 rice variety has recorded yields of up to 10 tonnes per hectare in several areas of Tenom, said Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar.
He said the results were recorded in Kalibatang Lama, Kalibatang Baru, Kuala Tomani and Merais, which he officiated.
The potential was also shown at the harvest of the Certified Rice Seed Satellite Field (CRSSF) in Kalibatang Baru.
The 67-hectare area is designated as a CRSSF under the Sabah Agriculture Department’s rice seed production section to produce certified quality rice seeds.
“Based on our statistics, the highest yield here over the past three years can reach 10 tonnes per hectare,” he said.
Jamawi, who is also Melalap Assemblyman, said samples he inspected showed each rice panicle had between 165 and 185 grains, indicating a potential yield of eight to nine tonnes per hectare.
He said the yield was among the highest recorded in Sabah, compared with about five tonnes per hectare at the Kota Belud Rice Bowl and 4.5 tonnes at Terusan Sapi.
Jamawi said the area had further potential to increase rice production and could serve as a model for farmers elsewhere in Sabah.
He said the State Government had approved two tractors this year, one for ploughing and another for harvesting.
“Next year, I will add planting machinery and a smaller harvesting machine for areas that are difficult for large machinery to access,” he said.
He said the government would also consider farmers’ requests for fertiliser spraying machines, with five units planned for next year.
Jamawi said farmers in the area also grew fruit, making it one of Sabah’s known fruit-producing areas.
He credited local farmers for their efforts, saying he had worked with them for about 20 years.
“I know their commitment and cooperation in managing the paddy fields in this area,” he said.
He urged the Agriculture Department to encourage farmers interested in TR8 cultivation to visit Kuala Tomani to study the methods and results.
“You don’t have to go to Sekinchan, Perak or the rice bowls in Kedah. Come to Kuala Tomani. We have proven that rice yields can reach 10 tonnes per hectare,” he said.
Jamawi also visited the Bukit Layang-Layang Vegetable Farm in Ulu Paal and Sabah Agriculture Park in Lagud Sebrang.
Also present were MAFFI deputy permanent secretary II Maria David Edick, Sabah Agriculture Department director Jackson Ronald Raimi, Sabah Paddy and Rice Board general manager Datuk Dr Ramle Kasin, Tenom district officer Alexander Liew and Tenom agriculture officer Mohammad Fauzi Ab Gulam.
Jamawi (third from right), and guests hold stalks of TR8 rice.
