MUKAH, Aug 17 (Bernama) — Strategic collaboration between the private sector and local landowners can be an effective model for developing idle land for commercial padi cultivation that provides a win-win situation for both parties, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The approach, he said, is not only able to generate consistent income for landowners, but also allows cultivation to be carried out in a modern and large-scale manner.
“Otherwise, the land will lie idle due to the high cost of cultivating it by the residents themselves. With the presence of the private sector, cultivation can be carried out in a modern approach using machinery and this creates economies of scale,” he explained.
He told reporters after visiting the Community Padi Cultivation Project undertaken by the Kuala Rajang Islamic Welfare Trust and Padihead Sdn Bhd at Ta Ann Padihead Padi Farm, in Tanjung Manis today.
According to Abang Johari, private companies will make investments by providing modern machinery and technology to cultivate the land owned by the residents.
Abang Johari said the use of machinery not only speeds up the padi planting process, which is within 50 minutes per hectare, but is also able to increase yields to three seasons a year.
The project in Tanjung Manis, which is being developed on an area of 800 hectares, is expected to be able to produce about four tonnes per hectare for two planting seasons a year.
He said the same model has great potential to be expanded to other areas, including Kuala Rajang, which has a potential area of 260 hectares.
“If we can plant 14,000 hectares throughout Sarawak, rice production can reach about 240,000 metric tonnes, enough for domestic consumption. If the area is increased by another 14,000 hectares, the amount can be doubled to 480,000 metric tonnes, of which the surplus can be exported,” he said.
Sarawak aims to achieve food security through the transformation and empowerment of the padi sector with high-tech initiatives to strengthen production and export potential by 2030.
— BERNAMA
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