SHAH ALAM: The Selangor state government is actively drafting a comprehensive strategy to increase the state's paddy production as a step toward strengthening the food security agenda and reducing dependence on high subsidies.
State infrastructure and agriculture executive councillor Datuk Izham Hashim said paddy production in Selangor has not yet reached its optimum level due to several constraints, including crop disease and pest attacks.
"Although this year’s planting season shows good signs, pest attacks such as the Yellow Stem Borer (Scirpophaga incertulas) have affected yields, reducing them to around four tonnes per hectare. While some areas like Sungai Leman and Sungai Burong recorded higher yields, many other areas remain low, causing the
overall average to stay at a moderate level," he told reporters on Friday (Jan 30).
Izham announced that the state aims to increase yields to at least seven to eight tonnes per hectare to ensure sustainable production through high-impact approaches, including large-scale paddy field management.
He added that the state government is planning discussions with relevant ministries and private companies to encourage corporate sector involvement in paddy management.
"Currently, paddy subsidies reach RM1.28 billion annually, and we see a need to restructure a portion of those subsidies as incentives for companies willing to collaborate with farmers," he said.
Elaborating further, Izham revealed that one of the issues identified in drafting the strategy is breach of agreement, where some farmers do not sell their harvest to the designated companies despite having received advance payments. He noted that this situation requires a reassessment of the entire paddy ecosystem to ensure it is fair, transparent, and viable.
"Based on a study presented in a recent retreat, paddy cultivation receives the highest subsidies compared to other crops, yet its productivity remains low. Therefore, more drastic improvement measures must be implemented for the benefit of farmers and the state's food security," he said.
At the same time, he noted that these efforts align with the National Food Security Policy (DKMN) and the Selangor Agro Transformation Plan, which emphasise production efficiency and agricultural sector management.
He emphasised that cooperation between the Federal and state governments must be streamlined, as land falls under state jurisdiction while policy is formulated at the federal level.- Bernama
