PEKAN, April 3 — The country has lost more than 20,000ha of padI fields across the country so far, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
This is because the areas in question had been developed for housing or other development projects, while some were left abandoned.
"We have lost more than 20,000ha of rice fields across the country, which have been converted to other developments, whether commercial or residential.
"In addition, there are also abandoned rice fields because many younger families have not continued their rice farming and have migrated to the city," he told Bernama while inspecting the project to reopen abandoned rice fields in Pahang Tua today.
In the meantime, Mohamad called on any company with the help of government agencies to develop abandoned rice fields by entering into a rental agreement with the landowners.
For example, he said that PLS Group had entered into an agreement to rent abandoned rice fields in Pahang Tua for redevelopment.
Indirectly, elderly rice farmers who are unable to cultivate their land will benefit, apart from reducing the number of abandoned rice fields.
The project to reopen abandoned rice fields in Pahang Tua covers 200ha, with 100 of 548 farmers participating in the programme through PLS.
Meanwhile, PLS group project supervisor Hushaimi Ismail said that, through the rice field re-opening project, his company had cleared about 200ha of abandoned land, with 72ha under cultivation.
The company had started clearing the abandoned land since the Chinese New Year through a six-season rental agreement with farmers here.
Through the agreement, he said farmers could get their produce, and their abandoned rice fields could be better managed.
