MELAKA GAZETTES 1,000 HA OF PADI FIELDS TO SAFEGUARD AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY

JASIN, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- The Melaka government has gazetted about 1,000 hectares (ha) of padi fields in the state, effective early this year, as part of its continued commitment to preserve agricultural areas and strengthen food security.

State Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security Committee chairman Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said the gazettement involved padi fields in three districts, which could not be arbitrarily developed, including for construction purposes, without the state government’s approval through an exco decision. 

“We want to ensure these padi areas are preserved. Any development application must first undergo consideration and receive approval from the state government,” he told reporters after officiating the state-level Agro MADANI Sales Carnival programme here today.

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He said the move was taken to ensure the sustainability of padi fields in the state and to prevent them from being sold, following a trend among third- and fourth-generation landowners who are less directly involved in padi cultivation.

“By gazetting these padi fields, it proves the state government’s seriousness in preserving agricultural assets and ensuring rice supply for the people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Muhamad Akmal said the state government welcomed the federal plan to turn states in the Peninsular Malaysia’s southern zone into rice bowl states, which is expected to strengthen the sector in a more organised and competitive manner.

Media had reported that the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry is drafting a strategy to develop southern states, namely Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor, as new rice granary areas, in line with the target of increasing the country’s rice self-sufficiency level (SSL) to 80 per cent by 2035.

-- BERNAMA