KOTA BHARU, Nov 6 (Bernama) — The Kelantan Department of Agriculture has developed 3,332.92 hectares of previously idle land between 2006 and 2024, with allocations exceeding RM26 million.
State Agriculture, Agrofood Industry and Commodities Committee chairman Datuk Tuan Mohd Saripudin Tuan Ismail said the state government allocated over RM12.6 million to develop 2,332.57 hectares of idle land, while the federal government contributed more than RM13.7 million for 1,000.35 hectares.
“These idle lands, either privately owned or leased, have been cultivated with permanent crops such as coconut, durian and limau madu, as well as cash crops like watermelon, pineapple, chilli, cucumber, corn, melon and various vegetables.
“The minimum area eligible for development under the State Agriculture Department’s allocation is 0.4 hectares, with a funding rate of RM25,000 per hectare,” he said at the State Legislative Assembly sitting at Kompleks Kota Darulnaim today.
He was responding to a question from Kamaruzaman Mohamad (PAS-Gual Periok) on the total area of idle land identified in Kelantan and the state government’s plans to develop it.
Elaborating, Tuan Mohd Saripudin said the incentives covered infrastructure components such as site clearing and preparation, purchase of inputs, mechanisation and agricultural equipment, as well as farm infrastructure including irrigation and drainage systems.
“The Kelantan State Agricultural Development Corporation is developing Agrovalley Rong Chenok in Pasir Mas, covering over 109 hectares, to undertake agricultural activities such as hydroponic vegetable farming, chilli cultivation using fertigation technology and freshwater fish breeding.
“For the 2025-2026 plan, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has approved several allocations to further enhance agricultural activities in Agrovalley Rong Chenok, including the cultivation of livestock feed crops like Napier grass, as well as fruit crops such as honey melon and banana,” he said.
He said the Kelantan Agricultural Group Berhad has also developed agricultural projects on land owned by the Kelantan Islamic Foundation to enhance the value of idle land through group farming projects involving local farmers around Tanah Merah.
“Meanwhile, Kelantan Biotech Corporation Sdn Bhd contributes to the food agriculture sector by promoting and marketing high-quality banana seedlings produced using plant tissue culture technology to farmers,” he said.
— BERNAMA
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