65 Pct Of Paddy Areas Under MADA Ready For Planting After Aidiladha - Mohamad

PUTRAJAYA, May 25 (Bernama) -- A total of 65 per cent of paddy cultivation areas under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) are now ready for the planting season, with farmers expected to begin sowing seeds after Aidiladha.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said that based on observations during his visit to Perlis yesterday, paddy fields had started receiving water supplies, giving confidence that planting activities could proceed after Aidiladha.

“Yesterday, I went to Perlis. I saw that all the paddy fields had water. Perhaps they are waiting until after Aidiladha to begin planting.

“There is already water in the plots, and water levels at the dams have started to rise. I am confident they will be able to begin planting in the near future,” he told reporters after launching the Kebuniti Agricultural Information Centre, or Gardentopia, a community garden model featuring a rooftop garden concept, here today.

He was responding to a news report yesterday stating that only 10 per cent of the 56,000 paddy farmers in Kedah, including those in the MADA area, had begun planting activities so far, while the remaining 90 per cent were still postponing the process due to concerns over weather conditions.

He said the concerns raised by paddy farmers were understandable, as unpredictable weather conditions could affect crop yields.

“Farmers want their crops to produce good yields. But based on the current situation, I think there is sufficient water supply.

“These weather conditions are difficult to predict. Sometimes rain is forecast in the morning, but it only comes at night. So we hope they will be able to start planting soon,” he said, adding that MADA was closely monitoring the situation.

Commenting on concerns over rising operating costs, Mohamad said the government had always taken note of the issue and continued to provide assistance related to land preparation work and agricultural inputs.

On Gardentopia, Mohamad said the initiative symbolised the government’s commitment to strengthening the national food security agenda through the involvement of local communities and civil servants.

He said the initiative was also in line with the ministry’s aspiration to cultivate domestic agriculture and empower farming practices among the people through the Home Garden (KENDIRI) campaign, which carries the slogan ‘Plant What We Eat, Eat What We Plant’.

“In addition to encouraging the public to produce their own food sustainably as a way to reduce living costs, this urban farming approach is seen as one of the strategic measures to address various challenges, including the global energy crisis, food inflation, supply chain disruptions, and global economic uncertainty,” he said.

Mohamad said the development of Gardentopia also reflects the evolution of the country’s agricultural transformation, which has gone through six major phases - beginning with the Buku Merah (Red Book) in 1960, followed by Buku Hijau (Green Book) in 1974; Bumi Hijau (Green Earth) in 2006; Pertanian Bandar (Urban Agriculture) in 2014; Pembangunan Pertanian Komuniti (Community Agriculture Development) 2021-2025, and now continuing through Pengukuhan dan Kemampanan Komuniti Pertanian (Agricultural Community Strengthening and Sustainability) (2026-2030), with an allocation of RM30 million.

Gardentopia, located at Rooftop Podium 1, Wisma Tani here, serves as a reference, information, and technical training hub for edible garden agriculture, particularly in optimising farming activities in areas with limited space.

The facility also provides an interactive learning platform and practical training for target groups and members of the public interested in deepening their knowledge of urban agriculture based on the edible garden concept within a short period of time.

-- BERNAMA