Sabah Looks To Guangzhou Model To Expand Urban Farming Initiative

GUANGZHOU (Nov 12): Sabah is exploring plans to turn unused urban land into community gardens, giving residents living in condominiums and apartments an opportunity to grow their own vegetables.

State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said discussions had been held with Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) to identify surplus land that could be developed for the initiative.

He said the idea was reinforced by a visit to the Mingzhu Modern Urban Agricultural Experimental Park in Nansha, Guangzhou, where individual plots are allocated to people who do not have land of their own to grow vegetables.

“One thing that caught my attention was that the kitchen garden concept, which we have been promoting in Sabah for almost a year, has already been implemented here.

“People who do not own land are provided with individual plots to grow various types of vegetables, which they can tend to after work or during weekends,” he told reporters after the visit.

The visit was part of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah delegation’s four-day programme in Guangzhou.

Jamawi said the proposed community gardens would benefit urban residents interested in gardening but without suitable space to do so.

The initiative would be pursued jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry (MAFFI) and DBKK. The ministry was also exploring the possibility of establishing kitchen gardens around its own premises, with the participation of its various agencies.

Beyond urban gardening, Jamawi said the visit had also provided insights into how biotechnology and research could be applied to enhance the value of agricultural and fisheries products.

He cited examples of crabs fetching up to RM800 each and chickens selling for about RM400 per bird through advanced technology and value-added processes.

He said such innovations could help farmers secure better returns while enabling their products to command higher market prices.

Meanwhile, MCCC Sabah president Datuk Dexter Lau said the visit had broadened his understanding of the commercial potential of the agriculture sector.

Lau, who has a background in trading and manufacturing, said he was impressed by how China’s agricultural industry was divided into specialised areas, including food production, fisheries, the Blue Economy and landscaping, allowing businesses to explore different revenue streams.

He suggested that Sabah adopt a similar approach by developing complementary activities such as aquaculture, which could offer higher profit margins and improve the overall viability of agricultural investments.

“When we sell agricultural products or food, the margins are generally low. But aquaculture offers potentially higher margins, and if we develop it properly, we can balance the returns and reduce the pressure on the agriculture side,” he said.

Lau also suggested that the Sabah Agriculture Department establish a dedicated division to assess investment profitability and guide investors in identifying complementary products and business opportunities.

He said the insights gained from the visits would help local businesses better understand the commercial potential of agriculture and explore ways to improve returns through diversification.

Earlier, the delegation visited the Nansha Fisheries Industrial Park, a major hub for China’s modern fisheries industry focusing on aquaculture, fish breeding, fisheries technology research, seafood processing and distribution.

The park showcases smart aquaculture systems, intensive fish farming, research into breeding high-value species and sustainable water resource management.

Jamawi said the visit had provided useful ideas for developing the 50ha site allocated to MAFFI through the Sabah Fisheries Development Authority (Safma) in Numbak, Sepanggar.

The site is intended to house Safma’s new base, replacing its existing premises in the city centre.

He said senior ministry officials, Safma and MCCC representatives had also held discussions with the park’s management on potential cooperation and the development of Sabah’s fisheries sector.

Jamawi expressed hope that the proposed facility in Numbak would eventually become an integrated one-stop centre for the state’s fisheries industry.

He said the visit was also in line with the state government’s efforts to strengthen the Blue Economy under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development roadmap, particularly through aquaculture development.

He thanked MCCC Sabah, led by Lau, for organising the delegation, saying the mission would help strengthen business links and open up opportunities for Sabah’s agriculture and fisheries sectors.

Lau, meanwhile, encouraged Sabah business players to explore cross-border trade and investment opportunities in Nansha, saying this could help position the state as a more prominent player in the fisheries industry.

“There is plenty of potential to explore here, while Sabah also has much potential to offer,” he said.

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