KOTA KINABALU: Idle grazing fields in the Tambunan district will be turned into high-yielding coconut plantations, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
Kitingan, who is also state Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister, said eight villages had been identified and selected under the first phase of the project that covers 1,375ha of grazing fields.
“The second phase will involve 30 additional villages with gazetted grazing fields,” he said at the Coconut Seedlings Handover Ceremony in Tambunan on Thursday.
Kitingan said the government, in collaboration with the Malaysian Kuwaiti Investment Co Sdn Bhd (MKIC), aimed to transform 9,506ha of under-utilised grazing fields in the district to improve the socio-economic status of locals by creating jobs and business opportunities.
MKIC has donated 5,000 Malaysian yellow dwarf and Malaysian red dwarf coconut seedlings to 38 villages and state government departments in the district as part of their corporate social responsibility.
He said this initiative was in line with the strategic development plan for Tambunan district 2022-30 and is 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 the coconut plantations would become a sustainable industry alongside existing agricultural activities, making the 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.
