Machinery to boost rice production in Kota Belud
KOTA BELUD: Rice production can increase with appropriate management, including the use of modern technology.
Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Datuk Musbah Jamli said the government had spent RM150 million for paddy fields in Kota Belud.
He also said a total of RM380 million had been approved in the Ninth Malaysia Plan 11 (MP 11) for the purpose of improving water drainage system, for collecting and draining water from paddy fields and farm roads.
Coordination of activities in efficient water management, and precise scheduling of fertilizers and pesticides could help increase the production of rice, and the Integrated Agriculture Development Area (IADA) of Kota Belud had already planned to modernize and develop rice fields in Kota Belud with the cooperation of a Japanese company, he said.
“The cooperation of IADA along with the Japanese, will increase production in Kota Belud paddy fields to RM1,000 in revenue per acre per season,” he added during the launch of the Paddy Yield Improvement Program at Kampung Labuan here, on Thursday.
During the event, 10 modern machinery along with experts were brought in from Japan, and led by Prof. Shimomura Tuyoshi to provide guidance on machinery usage and rice cultivation techniques.
Musbah also said the technology transfer was expected to increase rice production and hoped that landowners could cooperate with IADA.
He also urged farmers to equip themselves with knowledge and to grab existing opportunities in efforts to develop the rice industry in the district.
Also present were IADA Kota Belud director Salma Labula, Area Farmers Organisation board chairman Madshah Jeragan and Agro Semai Trading chairman Radziah Buni Ahmad Amin.