PEKAN: More than 20,000ha of padi farms have been overtaken by development across the country so far, the Agriculture and Food Security Minister revealed.
Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the areas were developed for housing or other projects, while others were left abandoned.
“We have lost more than 20,000ha of padi farms, which have undergone conversion to other developments, whether commercial or residential.
“In addition, there are also abandoned padi farms because many younger families have not continued farming and migrated to the city,” he said after inspecting a project to reopen abandoned padi farms in Pahang Tua here yesterday.
Mohamad called on companies to get the help of government agencies to develop abandoned padi farms by entering into a rental agreement with the landowners, Bernama reported.
Citing an example, he said the PLS Group had entered into an agreement to rent abandoned padi farms in Pahang Tua for redevelopment.
He said that elderly padi farmers who were unable to cultivate their land would benefit, apart from reducing the number of such abandoned farms.
PLS group project supervisor Dr Hushaimi Ismail said through the padi farm re-opening project, his company had cleared about 200ha of abandoned land since February, with an area of 72ha under cultivation through a six-season rental agreement with farmers here.
