KOTA KINABALU: A simple and age-old native Kadazandusun ritual to awaken the spirit of plants and seeds marked the launching of a seeds revival programme in conjunction with the Harvest Festival in Sabah.

       The ritual saw bobohizans (or native priests and priestesses) chanting a prayer in the classic Kadazandusun language and sprinkling water from selected leaves, among other ceremonial acts.

       It symbolises, among others, the calling and revival of the spirit of seeds and other nature elements to bring yield and prosperity to the plants and people involved.

       Sabah Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, the organising chairman of the state-level Kaamatan festival, said the seed revival programme was in line with International Biodiversity Day which is held on May 22 annually.

       “In the global competition to produce genetically modified organisms (GMOs), local and endemic plant species are often overlooked, and in many cases, go extinct.

       “But with this programme, we are aiming towards reviving plant species that are nearing extinction so that we can continue our identity and produce food and traditional medicine sources,” he said.

       He added that the state engaged all agriculture officials in every district and planters in these places to help find, identify and collect useful and endangered plant and seed species.

       “We have so far gathered and recorded a total of 135 endangered plant species, which will now be handed over to the next custodian, the Agriculture Department, to keep, plant and preserve,” he said.

       He hoped Sabah would see the revival of these plant species within the next 10 years, and in turn make them into new eco-tourism products and a source of pride for all Sabahans.

       Earlier, programme organising chairman Janie Tating said the objective was to collect seeds or cuttings of food crops or any plants nearing extinction believed to be useful to humans as herbs or medicine.

       He said the aim was also to conserve flora and fauna within the greater global United Nations mission, for local community identification of endangered seeds, and documentation of seeds and plant habitats, among others.