ALOR SETAR: The five-season, two-year planting programme in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) area will aim to increase padi production by 50%, to 46,000 tonnes annually, says the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.
Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the programme is expected to raise the current average padi yield from five tonnes per hectare to 5.6 tonnes per hectare during Phase 1, valued at RM761.23mil.
“Phase 1 will focus on the development and maintenance of 15 tertiary irrigation system blocks, costing RM526.37mil, as well as the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Pedu Dam at RM234.86mil.
“These infrastructure upgrades are projected to increase padi production from 775,000 tonnes, valued at RM1.008bil, to 821,000 tonnes, valued at RM1.068bil – a 6% increase,” he said during the signing ceremony of the Concession Agreement for Infrastructure Development at Mada’s headquarters here yesterday, Bernama reported.
The agreement was signed by the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak on behalf of the government, Mada general manager Kamarudin Dahuli and MMC Engineering CEO Asroll Mansor, representing MMC Infra Padi Sdn Bhd.
Mohamad said the programme is expected to improve farmers’ livelihoods, with gross income projected to grow from RM31,000 to RM46,000 annually, through the additional planting season.
“Last year, the Prime Minister announced that this programme would be implemented in phases. Initially, a total allocation of RM5bil was outlined, with this first phase, worth RM761.23mil, now underway,” he added.
