23/11/2015 (Bernama) - The agricultural sector received the second biggest allocation in the Sabah 2016 Budget after the infrastructure and public amenities sector with an allocation of RM469.50 million.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, when announcing the allocation for the sector in tabling the 2016 state budget at the State Legislative Assembly sitting today, said the large allocation was due to the fact that agriculture was expected to remain as the main pulse in generating the state's economy next year.

He said through the allocation, the government would give focus on sub-sector crops under agriculture such as the development of padi farms, fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, short-term crops and industrial crops through several main projects.

Musa said among the projects to be strengthened next year were the Permanent Crop Food Production Project (TKPM), Agricultural Research Program, Padi Crop Development Program, Rubber Replanting Program, and the Oil Palm Downstream Industry Development.

"For this purpose, RM169.85 million will be allocated for for this sub-sector next year," he said.