KUALA LUMPUR: Plans to build a new irrigation dam for padi fields under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) in Kedah are underway to improve water security, says Datuk Chan Foong Hin.
The Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister said other irrigation projects are also in the works with details to be revealed in the future.
“The planned dam and other projects are aimed to help improve water management at Mada in Kedah.
“The full details of the dam and other projects will be provided in a written response on resolving other issues at Mada,” he told the Dewan Raykat during Ministry Question Time on Monday (July 13).
He was responding to a supplementary question from Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PN-Setiu) on the government’s plans to ensure long-term water security for padi fields in Kedah, which produces more than 40% of Malaysia’s white rice.
Chan also said that a National Food Security Bill and Fertiliser Bill was still in the process of being drafted to ensure continuous food and agricultural input supply nationwide.
He noted that the ministry was also planning to integrate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) into the Supply and Market Surveillance and Intervention System (Sisda) to enable proactive intervention to be implemented quickly.
“Through these measures, the ministry is optimistic domestic production capacity can be strengthened and the impact of supply chain disruptions can be minimised to guarantee the continuity of national long-term food security,” he added.
