Villagers deny opposition claim Kampung Dadong corn feed project a failure

KEMAMAN: The seasonal corn feed farming project has not been abandoned as claimed by the opposition, said Kampung Dadong Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman, Wan Mamat Wan Ismail.

According to Wan Mamat, 65, the opposition’s allegations that the project at Kampung Dadong had failed and participants were deceived by the government were ridiculous and baseless.

He said several members of the opposition visited the village a few days ago and made a video recording saying that the grain corn project was a failure and villagers had to replant the crop.

“Actually the grain corn is planted as an alternate crop in the padi fields … so for now we are planting padi according to schedule, as grain corn will only be planted after Hari Raya.

“The matter is being raised now as the general election is nearing and we believe the intention is to confuse the public and to wage a political attack against Kemaman Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek,” he told Bernama yesterday.

According to another villager, Razali Hamid, 61, for the first season in 2016, he only profited from lease of the land as he was still not well-versed in grain corn farming.

“However, for the following season in 2017, I made RM1,800 and I am thankful to the government, especially the Agriculture Department for guiding and assisting us.

“I am looking forward to the next corn grain season which is after Hari Raya as I am confident we will get better income from the improved yield,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kemaman district agricultural officer, Nazirah Abdul Rahman said the corn grain farming project in Kampung Dadong was initiated by Ahmad Shabery, who is also Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister, to test whether it was ideal to grow grain corn on the villagers’ padi fields. — Bernama