KPKM RECEIVES APPROVAL FOR 18 UPGRADING PROJECTS WORTH RM400 MILLION UNDER 13MP

BACHOK, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) has received approval for 18 upgrading projects, including water infrastructure development in the agricultural sector, under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) with an estimated total cost of RM400 million.

KPKM Deputy Secretary-General (Development) Datuk Luqman Ahmad said this was in response to concerns frequently raised by farmers and padi growers over insufficient water supply, which affected the quality and productivity of their crops.

“We know the biggest problem faced by farmers is related to infrastructure, particularly access to water supply facilities and agricultural inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides.

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“Under the 13MP, there are five allocation cycles, and in each cycle, we will ensure that there are projects every year to improve water infrastructure,” he told reporters after inspecting the Bachok Area Padi Harvesting Programme in Kampung Keting here today.

Elaborating further, Luqman said one of the 18 approved projects was the construction of the new Kasa II Pump Station in Pasir Mas under the supervision of KADA, valued at RM28 million.

“The remaining 17 projects will be detailed in tomorrow’s meeting, as water issues remain a key government focus in helping farmers improve the nation’s agricultural output.

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“We will implement them in stages as it is not possible to complete everything within a year, but we will ensure the best approach to resolve the water supply problem,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Faizul said the new Kasa II Pump Station project was expected to benefit 2,700 farmers cultivating 10,000 hectares of padi and was scheduled for completion by early 2028.

-- BERNAMA