A SUSTAINABLE strategy called holistic integrated pest management (HIPM) has given new life to a padi plot in Seberang Perai, Penang.
The Penanti plot which saw yields collapse to one tonne per hectare in 2024 has rebounded to between 3.5 and four tonnes per hectare in its latest harvest under HIPM.
The recovery, recorded in the first planting season of this year on a 12.15ha site in Kampung Permatang Rotan, is now being monitored under a three-season observation programme led by the Agriculture Department.
The site cultivated by a third-generation farmer was producing up to 7.5 tonnes per ha in 2021, before the yield declined sharply due to irrigation issues and pest pressure.
This eventually led to a halt in planting activities.
The plot’s yield has now recovered to levels higher than the surrounding Penanti area, where recent averages were estimated at 1.5 to two tonnes per ha.
During a site visit, Agriculture Department director-general Datuk Nor Sam Alwi announced that the Kampung Permatang Rotan site would serve as a commercial observation plot for the next three planting cycles.
The observation period would allow relevant agencies to monitor performance under field conditions and support further assessment of the approach, she added.
Nor Sam also called for coordinated support from agencies, including Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA), Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) and Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas).
She highlighted the potential role of organic-based methods in strengthening long-term food security.
The initiative is aimed at improving soil conditions, plant health and nutrient uptake while reducing reliance on chemical pesticides.
The programme is being implemented by the Agriculture Department with agritech companies.
