Mohd Zolkafly says the state has identified suitable land for agricultural purposes.
VARIOUS efforts have been taken to strengthen Perak’s agriculture sector to make it competitive while boosting food security.
State rural development, plantation, agriculture and food industry committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun said these included identifying lands with potential to be developed for agricultural purposes.
“The state, through the land administrative authorities, has identified these areas.
“This is in line with the food security agenda under the Perak Sejahtera 2030 plan,” he said when replying to Husairi Ariffin (PN-Kenering) during the state assembly sitting at Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan in Ipoh yesterday.
He said some 93.84ha of land had been approved by the state government as food security supply zones.
“Those who are interested to develop the land can apply at the respective land offices,” said Mohd Zolkafly.
He said the State Agriculture Development Corporation had also planned and implemented several strategic food security initiatives.
The initiatives included producing onion seedlings to increase production in Lambor, a cockle-farming project in Trong, a honey jackfruit project in Gerik, a coconut-planting project in Bagan Datuk and a plant factory in Silibin, Ipoh.
“The plant factory project is a pioneer initiative, which uses the Fully Controlled Environment Precision Farming technology.
“It is a collaboration with Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute.
“The project was implemented this month,” said Mohd Zolkafly, noting that the project could also be implemented in under-utilised buildings.
“Among the produce being planted are baby kale, sweet basil, and coral lettuce,” he said.
