NIBONG TEBAL, July 4 (Bernama) -- The Unity Government is taking various initiatives to ensure paddy planters in Kelantan who are facing problems due to the drought, continue to plant paddy according to the planting season which starts in July, and guarentee no shortage of rice later.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said among efforts undertaken by the government is the Cloud Seeding Operation which is being carried out three times and an immediate allocation of RM20 million approved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to buy pumps, although the state is administered by the opposition.
Mohamad Sabu said the efforts are to ensure paddy planters in the state will continue to carry out their planting according to schedule to ensure food security, especially to make sure there is enough rice supply and avoid a price hike.
“We carry out cloud seeding three times in Kelantan and I myself accompanied the operation. The first time there was not much rain, second time there wasn’t any rain but after the third time, it started raining the next day.
“We can see that it has started raining in Kelantan and we are keeping track and record of rainfall everyday. The farmers will not face water problems to plant paddy this season,” he told reporters after opening the Jalan Teluk Ipil’s fishermen jetty, here today.
The cloud seeding in Kelantan was focused at seven strategic locations to overcome the drought following a drop in water level at Sungai Kelantan that resulted in the drought around Pasir Mas, Kota Bharu, Tanah Merah, Pasir Puteh, Dabong, Kemubu and Manek Urai.
Mohamad Sabu added that the cloud seeding operation is expected to benefit about 3,400 farmers who are planting paddy in areas under the Kemubu Agricultural Development Board (KADA).
Meanwhile, Mohamad said the jetty upgrading project which was completed in May through an allocation of RM150,000 would benefit all fishermen in the area.
"The ‘T’ shaped jetty measuring 20m x 2m was upgraded from a wooden jetty to a concrete jetty by the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM)," he said.
Also present were LKIM chairman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil and Jawi State Assemblyman H'ng Mooi Lye who is also the Local Government, Town and Country Planning committee chairman.
-- BERNAMA
