RM2.3 MLN PUMP HOUSE TO BENEFIT 80.9 HECTARES OF PADI FIELDS IN MELAKA

MELAKA, March 16 (Bernama) -- A RM2.3 million pump house project in Kampung Pinang Batang Tiga, Klebang, which is now fully completed, is expected to benefit nearly 80.9 hectares of padI fields cultivated by about 35 farmers in the area.

State Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security Exco Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said the project, under the food security initiative, was a collaboration between the Melaka State Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM), to improve the irrigation system for padi cultivation.

"The issue of water shortage faced by rice farmers here has been ongoing for many years and has often been raised by the area's elected representatives. With the completion of this pump house, it can help channel a more stable water supply to the rice fields here.

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"This pump house facility was also completed earlier and can be used to supply sufficient water to the rice farmers in the affected areas, thus solving the problems they have been facing for so long," he said.

He said this when met by reporters after a visit to the pump house which was also attended by Klebang assemblyman Datuk Lim Ban Hong in Kampung Pinang here today.

Explaining further, Dr Muhamad Akmal said the implementation of the project was the first phase to improve the irrigation system in the area, before the implementation of a larger-scale project in the future.

"For the next phase, a larger irrigation project will be implemented which will take water from Bukit Rambai with an estimated cost of RM43 million and is expected to be completed within three to four years.

“This small-scale project is being implemented as an initial step to help rice farmers in Kampung Pinang while waiting for the larger irrigation project to be completed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lim said he expressed his appreciation to the state and federal governments and the agencies involved for their efforts to complete the irrigation infrastructure ahead of schedule.

He said the project was originally scheduled to be completed in June this year, but was successfully completed earlier in March thanks to the cooperation of various parties.

“With the completion of this irrigation support infrastructure, rice farmers’ yields are expected to increase. Previously, 0.4 hectares of rice fields produced about 1.5 to two tonnes of rice, but with a better irrigation system, we hope the harvest can increase to about 2.5 tonnes or more.

“This will not only increase the supply of rice in Melaka, but will also help increase the income of rice farmers, thus giving them the opportunity to switch to more modern farming methods,” he said.

-- BERNAMA