SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan government will expand the area for padi cultivation up to 20.23ha in Londah here to boost the state's production, thus reducing the import of rice.
State Agriculture and Food Security Committee chairman Datuk Bakri Sawir said the state government was in the irrigation planning process with the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, and the land-clearing work would commence soon.
"This is in line with the government policy of 75 per cent local padi production. I think we will be able to complete the land-clearing work this year.
"We are also looking at the sustainability of the water supply for the crop because we are worried that when all the facilities are built, the water source to irrigate the crop will not be sufficient. So we need to look into permanent water sources and expand food production areas," he said at his office at Wisma Negeri here.
He added that opening new areas for padi cultivation would not only boost food security and create jobs for the locals, but also enable Negri Sembilan to fulfil its goal to become one of the rice-producing states.
On the abandoned padi fields in Jelebu, Kuala Pilah and other districts, Bakri said this might be caused by irrigation issues due to forest clearing for developmental plans, weather problems, as well as issues concerning financial and development of other sectors.
Meanwhile, he said the state government would create a permanent food production park for vegetables, cash crops and napier grass on a 40.5ha land in Gemas to encourage large-scale, commercial and high-technology agriculture activities.
He also said that the state government was ready to find land or an old warehouse to be used for vertical farming as an alternative to cover food needs in the future.
He said the move could be implemented in the future if the land area became smaller due to development.
"It (vertical farming) is not a new method, but it can be considered to be implemented in this country. This method is also popular in Singapore because it saves space," he said. – Bernama