Replace old infrastructures for success of five seasons in two years padi cultivation plan – Farmers

The dilapidated irrigation and drainage infrastructures in the padi cultivation areas of the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) must be immediately upgraded to ensure the successful implementation of the “five seasons in two years” paddy cultivation initiative.

“These infrastructures need to be upgraded to meet the current needs of padi farmers. When the government expresses its commitment to upgrade the infrastructures involving an allocation of RM3 billion, that is what we are all waiting for,” he told Bernama today.

Padi farmer Ahmad Bakar, 71, from Alor Setar, who has been growing padi for more than 30 years, said most of MADA’s irrigation and drainage infrastructures were built between 30 and 40 years ago and was still highly used today.

“There are several major infrastructures that are in poor condition and need to be replaced with new ones…however, a lack of allocation has caused the quality and level of maintenance to be unsatisfactory.

Meanwhile, Syahmi Azhar, 34, said the issue of poor road condition in MADA areas also required attention because it had an impact on crop production.

“There are potholes on the roads, riding a motorcycle while carrying equipment, seeds and so on is difficult, especially if you are alone. Due to these poor road conditions, some padi farmers have fallen and overturned.

“It is hoped that the allocation will be fully utilised for the benefit of MADA padi farmers because if the five seasons in two years paddy cultivation initiative is successful, it will undoubtedly provide more income and returns to the state as well as the country,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when announcing the ‘MADANI Economy: Empowering the People’ initiative yesterday, expressed the government’s commitment to improve the irrigation infrastructure in the MADA areas in Kedah and Perlis to increase the productivity of rice production to five seasons within two years, involving infrastructures worth RM3 billion.