SELANGOR is actively identifying more than 2,000ha of land at 22 locations for agricultural activities to enhance crop production.
State infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Datuk Izham Hashim said this was among several long-term strategies being taken to improve and ensure consistent supply of food in Selangor.
“The state government is in the midst of allocating more land for farming and cultivating high-value crops.
“This is in addition to new agricultural land being developed in Sungai Air Tawar, Changkat Menteri, Sekinchan and Olak Lempit – in total spanning 500ha,” he said during the Selangor State Assembly sitting at Bangunan Dewan Negeri Selangor in Shah Alam yesterday.
Dr Mohd Zamri Mohd Zainuldin (PN-Sungai Burong) had asked about Selangor’s strategies to ensure food security in the state.
Elaborating, Izham said the state government was working with 200 community farms on seeding and breeding initiatives.
He said many industry players were not keen to take on such activities due to high costs and late financial returns.
“This is why state intervention is needed.
“We are working with the Federal Government, government-linked companies and various private companies to carry out initiatives to seed coconut, papaya, corn and breed tiger prawn and Barbados Black Belly sheep, among others,” he said.
To cushion the shock of food shortage, Izham said the Selangor Food Warehouse was introduced to stockpile essential food items.
These comprise rice, meat, poultry and fish – enough to feed 15% of Selangor’s population for a month, he added.
According to Izham, Selangor received RM30.46mil from the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to undertake various programmes this year.
Part of the funds, he said, were disbursed to farmers in the form of machines such as transplanters and combine harvesters to improve yield.
“The state government also provides additional funds for farmers to buy equipment for padi cultivation using both organic and conventional methods.
“We are hopeful that the ministry will give more funds next year, following the success of our programmes in 2025.”
