KUCHING – Sarawak Development Institute (SDI) has been appointed by the Sri Aman Development Agency (SADA) to undertake a project to map out all stakeholders within the paddy cultivation and rice ecosystem in the Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA), Batang Lupar in Sri Aman Division. This project is in line to support and explore how Sarawak can boost its rice self-sufficiency level (SSL) under PCDS 2030 from the current 32 percent to 100 percent by year 2030 through the deployment of modern methods for paddy cultivation.
This project aims to identify the different needs and challenges of every stakeholder within the industry such as farmers and landowners, youths within the area, community leaders in the area, anchor companies offering modern paddy planting schemes, rice milling companies, rice wholesalers, community organisations in the area, and government agencies. In addition, the mapping will also identify the interpersonal and multidirectional relationships between stakeholders and illustrate the gaps or challenges along the rice supply chain.
The project will involve identified communities in the areas of IADA Batang Lupar, specifically in Stumbin-Tanjung Bijat, and some in Seduku and Lingga-Banting. SDI will adopt different communication approaches in its engagement with the respective stakeholders in the area as well as gather socio-economic data in the mapping exercise. The project aims to deliver an ecosystem mapping for better interaction and collaboration between stakeholders that will be used by SADA and the Sarawak Government for paddy cultivation planning in the area.
The appointment of SDI was officially done at an agreement signing ceremony today at Wisma Bapa Malaysia by Mahra bin Salleh, Acting Resident of Sri Aman Division, and Lelia Sim Ah Hua, CEO of SDI. The ceremony was also witnessed by Dato Sri Rohani Abdul Karim, Chairperson of SADA, Frank anak Lani, District Officer of Lingga, and Alfred Geling anak Ason, Special Administrative Officer of SADA.
