THE average paddy production in the state can still be improved although Penang has grabbed pole position in average paddy yield per hectare, state executive council member Dr Afif Bahardin said.
Dr Afif, who is the state Health, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, and Rural Development Committee chairman, believed that the average production could be increased with the cooperation from everyone such as the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Agriculture Department, Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA), Farmers’ Organisation Authority (LPP) and others.
“Penang’s average paddy yield per hectare is 5.8 tonnes per hectare. Our average paddy production is higher than the national’s average paddy production, which is 4.5 tonnes per hectare.
“The state has more than 12,000ha of paddy fields, with most of them located in north Seberang Perai,” Dr Afif said in his speech during the opening of Penang MARDI Day 2018 at MARDI Seberang Perai today.
MARDI director general Datuk Dr Mohamad Roff Mohd Noor said the Penang MARDI Day 2018 was held to introduce the latest technology in paddy research to the locals.
“The event also provides a platform for MARDI-guided entrepreneurs to promote their products,” he said.
A seminar on paddy, called the rice Talk@MARDI, was also held at the event.
Also present was Penang MARDI director Azmi Abd Razak.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis