Going hi-tech: A padi field at Paddy NMR 152 Project Research Side, Sekinchan. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
PENDANG: The Sekinchan-style Large-Scale Smart Padi Field Project (Smart SBB) introduced by the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) can attract young people to take up padi farming as a career, says Mada chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh.
He said the use of modern technology, including drones, in the project helps farmers manage crops more efficiently and provides higher yields.
Sekinchan in Selangor is home to Malaysia’s most productive rice fields when measured on a yield per hectare (ha) basis, he added.
“Our Smart SBB has pioneers in specific crop areas, so naturally, young people with the right mindset, skills and desire can join.
“These young people can make a profession in the rice industry. If they can achieve a yield of seven tonnes per hectare in an area of 100 plots (28ha), this can encourage young people to consider padi cultivation as a profession,” he told Bernama when met at the Kampung Gulau Smart SBB harvesting programme here.
The programme was officiated by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu on Sunday.
Ismail said the Smart SBB project, which is part of Mada’s initiative to support the “Gelombang Padi” (Padi Wave) agenda, is to boost the development of the country’s padi and rice industry and increase its self-sufficiency ratio.
The Smart SBB project in Kampung Gulau is managed in an area of almost 39ha involving 10 young farmers.
One of the participants, Mohamad Farid Shafie, 38, said the use of high-tech machinery and equipment makes the padi cultivation process easier and faster. It also helps to overcome the problem of labour shortage.
He said besides the use of technology, providing certain incentives to farmers can attract young people to join the padi cultivation sector while ensuring crop sustainability for the future.
“I cultivate padi on an area of 40ha, with over half being Smart SBB. Currently, the padi in Smart SBB has not been harvested yet, but I can see an improvement in the quality of the plants,” he said.
