ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor produced over 6,225 tonnes of rice between 2021 and 2022, an increase of 30% from previously, says state exco Datuk Zahari Sarip.
Zahari, who is the agriculture, agro-based industry and rural development committee chairman, said between 2020 and 2021, some 4,746 tonnes of rice was produced.
“The area of padi fields in Johor is smaller compared to that in main rice-producing states such as Selangor, Perak, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
“Despite not being among the main rice-producing states, the Johor government continues to make it an agenda to be the southern rice bowl as part of the focus on food security,” he said during the state assembly sitting here yesterday.He was replying to Selamat Takim (BN-Sungai Balang), who asked if the state government would focus on increasing rice production in an effort to ensure food security.
Zahari said there were currently 10 main padi farms in the state with a total area of 2,254.39ha, spread out among the districts of Tangkak, Mersing, Batu Pahat and Kluang, as well as 875 padi farmers.
The state government, he said, had carried out six programmes and projects totaling RM3.2mil this year as part of the effort to increase rice production.
