RM6.9 Mln Aid Boosts Padi Cultivation In Batang Lupar – Mohamad

SRI AMAN, April 9 (Bernama) -- The government has allocated RM6.9 million in agricultural development aid to farmers in Batang Lupar to boost padi productivity and expand the use of modern technology, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

He said the assistance covers five projects under the Batang Lupar Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA), including the provision of inputs and machinery, land clearing, upgrading of farm roads, and maintenance of drainage and irrigation systems.

“The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM), through IADA Batang Lupar, will continue to facilitate the SMART Large-Scale Padi Field (SMART SBB) programme and coordinate engagement between government agencies, anchor companies and farmers.

“IADA Batang Lupar will also ensure the padi industry in this granary area supports the government’s goal of strengthening national food security,” he said at the launch of the Sarawak Padi Wave Programme: SMART SBB and IADA Batang Lupar Customer Day 2026 at Dewan Nangkai, Stumbin here today.

Mohamad said the SMART SBB initiative, a public-private collaboration, aims to raise the country’s rice self-sufficiency level to 80 per cent by 2030 while improving farmers’ livelihoods through modern, large-scale farm management.

He said a pilot project at Block C Tanjung Bijat, which began in the 2021 off-season, recorded encouraging results, with yields nearly doubling from 2.8 to 5.5 tonnes per hectare. The project involves collaboration between Advansia, BERNAS and 219 farmers across 105 hectares.

Meanwhile, he said the federal and Sarawak state governments are identifying new areas to expand large-scale padi cultivation in the state.

However, Mohamad said climate change remains a key challenge, affecting planting schedules due to prolonged dry spells in several granary areas in Peninsular Malaysia.

“We hope yields can reach up to seven tonnes, but we must address disruptions such as changing weather patterns, including prolonged dry periods in Kedah and Perlis,” he said.

He added that the use of modern technology, including transplanters in the Tanjung Bijat project, is expected to improve efficiency and productivity.

-- BERNAMA