SHAH ALAM, Aug 13 — More transplanters and harvesters will be put to use in the modern agriculture sector as a long-term effort to raise padi yields, said state executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Dato’ Izham Hashim.
He said the Selangor government is improving automation and infrastructure in padi fields, including by planting the Putra strain of seed produced by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
“This is in line with the Selangor Agro Transformation Plan (PeTA). The state government is of the view that mere financial aid or input cannot become long-term solutions if productivity isn’t increased and production costs aren’t lowered.
“The need to continue or introduce input aid for padi farmers in the future will be evaluated periodically based on economic conditions, agriculture input cost changes, farmers’ needs, and financial capabilities,” he told the Selangor State Legislative Assembly here today.
Izham said the current priority is to ensure aid provided directly raises productivity, improves farmers’ earnings, and lowers production costs, while ensuring Selangor’s padi industry is sustainably developed.
Last year, Kuala Selangor was chosen to host the “five seasons in two years” padi planting pilot project.
The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry said the 2015-2017 joint study between the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) and Integrated Agricultural Development Area in Northwest Selangor (IADA) involved 214.9ha of farmland and 141 farmers.
