KPKM To Channel Over RM800,000 To Enhance KADA Agricultural Infrastructure

KOTA BHARU, June 3 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) has allocated an additional allocation of RM850,000 to improve agricultural infrastructure in the padi growing area under the supervision of the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (KADA).

KADA general manager Mohd Faizul Mustafa said the allocation would be used to construct tube wells in areas such as rice fields that faced water supply problems in the previous planting season.

He said several areas in Pasir Mas and Kota Bharu had been identified as experiencing water supply shortages, hence the construction of tube wells would be implemented according to need, either with or without engine facilities.

“We greatly appreciate the additional allocation allocated by KPKM in the current challenging economic conditions. This assistance enables KADA to improve existing facilities to help farmers address water supply issues, especially during the dry season,” he told reporters after a prayer ceremony in conjunction with the commencement of KADA's 1/2026 Rice Planting Season here today.

Mohd Faizul said that with the support of the Kemubu pump facility and various government incentives, KADA is targeting up to 95 per cent of the total 24,500 hectares of padi fields under its supervision to be cultivated this season.

He said ​​the area was expected to produce about 200,000 tonnes of padi, subject to weather conditions and the ability of the irrigation system to operate properly throughout the season.

Meanwhile, he said the padi planting season 1/2026 was scheduled to begin in early June while the harvesting process was expected to be completed no later than the second week of November.

"If everything goes according to schedule, God willing, padi can be harvested before the flood season, thus reducing the risk of losses to farmers. However, the situation could change if unforeseen factors such as floods occur earlier than usual," he said.

In a related development, Mohd Faizul said farmers who failed to start planting according to the set schedule, which is by the end of this month at the latest, would have to bear any losses incurred.

He said this group was also not eligible to receive benefits under the Padi Crop Takaful Scheme (STTP), which offers protection of up to RM3,000 per hectare if crops are destroyed due to natural disasters, diseases or pest attacks.

He said the move was in line with KPKM's directive and ability to supply water to almost 95 per cent of the rice fields following the improvement in agricultural infrastructure provided by the government, including the Kemubu Pump facility.

-- BERNAMA