ALOR SETAR: The Kedah Regional Development Authority (Keda) has allocated RM3.37mil this year to bolster the nation’s food security.
Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang said that of this amount, RM2.12mil was for the Rural Farmers Agriculture Project (PPLB), and RM1.25mil for padi field development projects.
She said the PPLB projects involved 115 agropreneurs covering 71ha of agricultural land to help them increase their income, boost food production and reduce imports.
"Through PPLB, Keda assists participants by providing agricultural input, equipment and machinery.
"We also rehabilitate and upgrade idle land and provide training, courses, promotions and other support,” she said after Keda's monthly assembly here on Monday (July 15).
Also present were Keda deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman and general manager Ismasuhaimi Shariff.
On the padi field development projects, Rubiah said they would involve the restoration of 50ha of land, the repair of 5km of roads and 7.5km of agricultural roads, as well as drainage systems.
She said there are 2,654ha of idle land in Kedah, with around 2,000ha or 85% within Keda's jurisdiction.
"The goal of the rehabilitation programme is to help farmers and padi growers optimise land use to support national food security,” she said.
In addition to padi, participants grow pineapples, durians, chillies and high-value fruits.
According to records, from 2014 to last year, Keda has developed 1,154ha of idle land and improved the economic situation of 1,772 participants.
Rubiah said Keda is also involved in helping to ensure the implementation of the National Food Security Policy 2021-2025 and the National Agro-Food Policy 2021-2030 in its operational areas. – Bernama
