SERDANG, Sept 14 – The government is planning several mega projects in the agricultural sector, including the first phase of a large-scale padi cultivation initiative, with a total project value of RM5 billion, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the project aims to boost padi yields and improve the livelihoods of local farmers.
“KPKM (Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security) is focusing on increasing the nation’s rice production. This is crucial for enhancing the welfare of our farmers and ensuring food security,” he said in his speech at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA) at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) on Saturday.
Anwar emphasised the need for all ministries and agencies to work as a cohesive team to ensure that the nation’s food production targets are met.
The prime minister also acknowledged the challenge of rallying farmers, rice growers and fishermen to embrace these changes and adapt to the upcoming transformation in the agricultural sector.
“The key challenge is how to engage the farming communities, especially the padi planters and fishermen, to embrace this transformation and significantly increase their yields,” he said.
