TANJONG KARANG, June 4 — Increased padi productivity is among the main targets in the Second Selangor Plan (RS-2) to boost the state’s agriculture industry and food security, said state executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Dato’ Izham Hashim.
He added that the Selangor government has held early discussions with stakeholders and scheduled several meetings.
“It is definitely in the RS-2. At the early stage, we have held joint discussions and will continue two or three more observation sessions to ensure our methods truly bring positive impacts to the padi sector,” he told reporters met after a ceremony to hand over agriculture machinery to Pertubuhan Peladang Negeri Selangor (PPNS) in Sungai Burong here today.
Izham said the padi sector, as a monoculture, often faces challenges as a single crop is planted across a wide expanse of land, which makes the crop more vulnerable to disease and problems like lower soil fertility.
According to him, developing modern technology can help increase yield and improve production of the staple.
“The approach must be comprehensive and not just focused on pesticide or fertiliser aspects. I’m sure that with existing technology, including successful practices in Indonesia, we can make them a guide to increase padi productivity,” he said.
Last year, Selangor was chosen to host the five seasons, two years (5M2T) padi planting study under a trial project at Sawah Sempadan in Kuala Selangor.
According to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (MAFS), the joint study done by the Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI) and Selangor Northwest Integrated Agriculture Development Area (IADA) from 2015 to 2017 involved a 214.9ha area and 141 padi farmers.
