By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
SABAK BERNAM, July 24 — Selangor is set to collaborate with Pahang and Sabah to expand the production of high-quality grain corn.
State executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim said the state government is currently identifying suitable land for this purpose.
“We will partner with Pahang and Sabah to cultivate this crop. We are currently in preliminary discussions to identify appropriate land,” he told reporters during a visit to the Selangor Farmers Organisation’s Machinery Division here yesterday.
On January 21, it was reported that the state government, through the Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation, successfully harvested its inaugural batch of grain corn.
A total of 118 tonnes of the crop were harvested from 17ha of land at a plantation in Kuala Langat.
[caption id="attachment_365222" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
State executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim speaks to the media after the handover of mini harvesters at the Selangor Farmers Organisation’s Machinery Division in Sekinchan, Sabak Bernam, on July 23, 2024. — Picture by HAFIZ OTHMAN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
The state’s first-of-its-kind project aims to cut down dependence on imported chicken feed, effectively reducing or stabilising chicken prices in the state.
On a separate matter, Izham said the state government plans to increase the number of mini combine harvesters to help farmers minimise crop losses.
He said the use of these machines can reduce rice wastage by up to 5 per cent, compared with the previous 20 per cent.
“One of the best methods to increase rice yield is to switch to mini harvesters instead of the large ones currently in use.
“These large harvesters result in significant rice loss of about 20 per cent. For example, if 1,000ha can produce 7,000 tonnes of rice, then farmers could lose about 1,400 tonnes.
“By using mini harvesters, farmers will only lose about 5 per cent. Currently, Selangor has seven harvesters, three of which are managed by the Agriculture Department and the rest by the Selangor Farmers Organisation Machinery Division,” he said.
