Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. - Filepic/The Star
KOTA KINABALU: There are plans to redevelop idle grazing fields in Sabah’s Tambunan district into high-yielding coconut plantations, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
He said there were two phases planned out for this vision so far, with eight villages identified and selected for the first phase of the project which covers 3,400.75 acres of grazing fields.
"The second phase will involve 30 additional villages with gazetted grazing fields," added the Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister at the Coconut Seedlings Handover Ceremony in Tambunan, Thursday (March 16).
Kitingan said the government, in collaboration with the Malaysian Kuwaiti Investment Co Sdn Bhd (MKIC), aimed to transform 9,506ha of underutilised grazing fields in the district to improve the socio-economic status of the residents, create jobs and business opportunities.
MKIC has donated 5,000 coconut seedlings of Malaysian Yellow Dwarf (MYD) and Malaysian Red Dwarf (MRD) varieties to 38 villages and state government departments in the Tambunan district as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR).
He said this initiative was in line with the strategic development plan for Tambunan district 2022 – 2030 and was part of Sabah Maju Jaya's focus on agriculture.
"Coconut industry is one of the development plans under Sabah Maju Jaya, focusing on agriculture alongside industrial and tourism development," said Kitingan.
He hoped that high-yielding coconut plantations on Tambunan's grazing fields would become a sustainable industry alongside existing agricultural activities, making Tambunan's residents self-sufficient and fostering continuous development for future generations.
"I am delighted that today marks the beginning of my vision to redevelop idle grazing fields in Tambunan into high-yielding coconut plantations, benefiting local villagers and contributing to sustainable economic development," he said.
Kitingan also suggested establishing a coconut processing plant in Tambunan in the future, further emphasising the potential for economic growth in the area.
"To ensure the success of the coconut cultivation, I hope that MKIC, in collaboration with the Dataforce team in Tambunan, monitors the progress of the distributed coconut seedlings and provides further guidance and assistance," he said.
