Kiulu District Transformation Progress
Kota Kinabalu: Collaborative efforts are underway to fully harness Kiulu’s agricultural potential and enhance the local community’s economy. The initiative to focus on agricultural development was taken following the success of turning Kiulu into a rural tourism destination.
Agriculture and tourism are closely linked sectors that can significantly transform Kiulu’s rural landscape. By improving infrastructure, planning strategically, and sharing knowledge, opportunities can be created to boost agricultural productivity and enhance tourism experiences based on rich natural resources.
A meeting was held on Wednesday to discuss agricultural development in the Kiulu subdistrict and potential collaboration. During the briefing, it was informed that Kiulu was selected for a high-yielding paddy pilot project launched in Kampung Tompinahaton late last year.
To support agricultural growth, a decision has been made to set aside RM1.5 million to upgrade existing agricultural roads and build new ones. There are 73 agricultural roads in Kiulu, and many of them will be improved. Approximately 40 agricultural roads will be upgraded this year, while some new ones will also be constructed.
The initiative also focuses on providing the necessary know-how and motivation for youths, especially unemployed graduates, to venture into agriculture and tourism while waiting for job placements. This aligns with the Sabah Maju Jaya development plan, which emphasizes agricultural growth as a key pillar in boosting the state’s economy and reducing its food import bill.
The goal is to establish Kiulu as a model of integrated rural development that benefits all levels of the community, especially in economic empowerment and creation of employment opportunities. The setting up of a pineapple and ginger processing factory and a hill paddy packing facility in Kiulu are also in the pipeline.
Despite being a rural constituency, there is optimism that with proper planning, Kiulu would prosper in tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing in line with the development blueprint.