KANGAR, May 9 — The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) is confident the use of smart farming technology can help the country’s rice production be improved towards self-sufficiency level (SSL), said its minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
He said this is based on the success of paddy farmers in Sekinchan, Selangor, who have used this method to produce around seven to 11 tonnes of rice per hectare, compared with five tonnes per hectare using the normal method.
“If we succeed in increasing the rice yield to seven tonnes per hectare in the areas in Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) and the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (Kada), I am confident that we will not need to take a long time to achieve the SSL.
“In the future perhaps we will be able to export rice abroad,” he told reporters after officiating the SMART SBB Mini Sekinchan MADA BERNAS programme, and visiting the SMART SBB site in Kampung Lat 1000, Simpang Empat, earlier today.
Also present were MAFS secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali; Agricultural Industry Development Division secretary Datuk Azman Mohmood; MADA general manager Kamaruddin Dahuli and state Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Committee chairman Razali Saad.
Mohamad said it is time for paddy farmers nationwide to be working full-time using smart farming technology.
He added this method saves time and energy, in addition to increasing the yield of rice, and this method has been used by foreign countries, including China.
Mohamad also said that the SMART SBB Mini Sekinchan Mada Bernas programme will be implemented in an area of 187 hectares, in two locations, under Mada purview, namely Kampung Lat 1000, Simpang Empat, Perlis and Kampung Tok Mengkula, Ayer Hitam, Kedah.
— Bernama
