THE Penang government’s allocation of over RM200,000 has benefitted some 600 paddy farmers in the north Seberang Perai district.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state approved the application for the development of the rice crop industry through the Department of Agriculture last year and this year.
“The aid was provided in the form of incentives to get an agricultural drone and a paddy harvester for active paddy farmer groups.
“The initiative, which started last year, was to encourage more paddy farmer groups to form cooperatives.
“A unit of agricultural drone costs RM71,000 has been approved for the Lahar Kepar paddy farmer group cooperative.
“The agricultural drone benefits 150 paddy farmers,” he told reporters after attending the handover ceremony in Permatang Manggis, Kepala Batas today.
The ceremony was part of Chow’s ‘Jelajah ❤️ Penang’.
He added that the state had also approved a paddy harvester for the Permatang Tinggi/Bakar Bata/Paya Keladi paddy farmer group this year.
“A total of RM139,000 has been allocated for the machine which benefitted 441 paddy farmers.
“The state believes that technology can help to increase paddy yield in Penang,” he said.
It was reported that the state’s paddy production was ranked among the highest in the country.
Penang’s paddy production took pole position in the year 2020 with an average paddy production of 5.214 metric tons per hectare compared to 5.012 metric tons per hectare recorded in 2019. In 2022, the state Agriculture Department targets an average paddy production of 6.2 metric tons per hectare.
Chow hoped that the aid provided by the state government could increase the paddy yield and income of the paddy farmers.
Speaking of the “Jelajah ❤️ Penang’, Chow said he visited all three state constituencies (Penaga, Bertam and Pinang Tunggal) in Kepala Batas today.
“Among the places and communities we visited and assisted were the Taman Seri Serdang flat, Pasar Bisik Kuala Muda and the paddy farmers here.
“The state government pays close attention to the social economic development of all sectors including agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, tourism, and others in Penang,” he said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Norazis
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud