Month-long Kaamatan kicks off in Ranau
KOTA KINABALU: This year’s month-long Tadau Kaamatan (harvest festival) kicked off in Ranau, nestled at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu, with an emphasis on enhancing food production.

Themed “Kaamatan, Poingalib Kohimaganon Taakanon” (Kaamatan Beyond Food Security), the colourful festival of the Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus communities across Sabah will showcase their traditional dances, music and games, leading up to the state-level celebration at the Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang on May 30 and 31.

The launch ceremony yesterday also signalled the quest to find this year’s Unduk Ngadau (beauty pageant) queen from every district in Sabah and among Sabahans living in other states.

The launch was marked with the symbolic cutting of padi stalks and beating of the gong seven times by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who represented Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

In his speech, Hajiji said the government is taking various initiatives to enhance the level of self-sufficiency in agricultural products, especially rice, to strengthen food security in the state.

The state government, he said, has established a high-level management committee under the state Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry to address issues related to food security.

“Sabah currently only achieves a self-sufficiency level of 22.8%, with the rest still dependent on rice supplies from external sources or imported rice.

“At the same time, uncertain weather conditions greatly affect agricultural yields, including in this state.

“Therefore, on April 17, the state Cabinet agreed to revive the Sabah Padi Board as part of initiatives to increase production and food security in the state. It is also among the state government’s efforts to increase rice self-sufficiency levels.

Hajiji also noted that RM18mil for padi field-ploughing incentives has been allocated under Budget 2024.

Other initiatives include the reclamation of idle padi fields, the development of upland rice, an increase in the number of ploughing and transplanting machinery, the provision of fertilisers at optimum rates and an allocation of RM5.16mil for subsidies for padi sales to all farmers.

On the celebration, Hajiji said, “The Kaamatan Festival not only aims to strengthen unity among people of different races and religions, but also to express gratitude for a good harvest.”
Sabah & Sarawak,Sabah,Kaamatan,Ranau
KOTA KINABALU: This year’s month-long Tadau Kaamatan (harvest festival) kicked off in Ranau, nestled at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu, with an emphasis on enhancing food production.