Land Conversion and Food Security in Sabah: A Dpsir-Based Empirical Assessment

Abstract

Agricultural land conversion in Sabah poses an increasing challenge to regional food security, particularly in the context of rapid urbanisation, tenure vulnerabilities, and fragmented land governance. This study aims to examines the extent, patterns, and implications of agricultural land conversion in Sabah by analysing 36 verified conversion cases recorded in 2023, involving approximately 238.08 acres of land. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining descriptive analysis of verified land conversion records with qualitative document analysis of a rezoning appeal case in Papar. The study applies the Driving Forces–Pressures–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) framework to systematically interpret the socio-economic, institutional, and governance dynamics influencing agricultural land loss. The findings show that urban expansion, speculative development, and housing demand act as key driving forces that generate pressures on agricultural land, particularly through rezoning applications and weak tenure safeguards. These pressures have weakened the state of agricultural land protection, especially for Native Title holdings, which appear particularly vulnerable to conversion. The impacts of this trend include the reduction of land available for food production, increasing pressure on local food systems, and heightened risks to Sabah’s food sovereignty. The Papar case further demonstrates how land designated for food security purposes may remain vulnerable to development pressure when institutional coordination and zoning enforcement are weak. Institutional responses, including zoning controls, departmental objections, and planning procedures, were found to be inconsistent and insufficient. The study underscores the need for stronger and more enforceable land governance mechanisms to protect agricultural land and strengthen food security in Sabah.