10,000ha in KB to be developed for paddy
Published on: Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: The State Government with the help of Federal will develop 10,000 hectares in Kota Belud for paddy cultivation. Deputy Chief Minister cum Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin said it would be cultivated based on commercial paddy development to increase rice production. "To develop the irrigation and drainage as well as water resources, we need an allocation of RM1 billion," he said, adding it would be supplied in stages. "For the first phase, 5,000 hectares have been focused for development in Kota Belud," he said, adding that they have not started with the other 5,000 hectares. To date, 3,000 hectares have been equipped with irrigation and drainage system.
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The Government in the 9th Malaysia Plan, he said, spent RM116.2 million to develop the irrigation and drainage infrastructure as well as water resource, which includes the upgrading of the existing irrigation and drainage system. In the 10th Malaysia Plan, the Federal Government allocated RM37.6 million to upgrade the irrigation and drainage infrastructure. Among the areas involved were Kg Tawadakan, Tamau, Kota Bongan, Jawi-Jawi, Merabau, Kota Keranjangan and Labuan. Yahya said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak when tabling the National Budget in 2013 officially declared the development of four Integrated Agricultural Development Areas (IADA) namely Rompin, Pekan, Batang Lupar and Kota Belud.
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"The setting up of Kota Belud IADA is to coordinate and manage the infrastructure development and paddy plantation commercially in the district," he said. Therefore, the State Drainage and Irrigation Department through the IADA has requested an allocation of RM380.8 million to the Federal government to carry out a total of 11 irrigation and drainage infrastructure projects at 5,000 hectares by the year 2020.
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This includes the building of a District IADA Administrative Complex, he added. Two projects worth RM68 million has been approved by the Federal government and will be implemented this year, he said. "Both of these projects are currently ongoing and among the villages that will benefit through these projects are Kg Tempasuk 1, Kg Tempasuk 2, Sangkir, Taun Gusi, Jawi Jawi, Kesapang, Kimo Kimo and others," he said. More than 4,000 farmers will gain from the projects with their income are expected to increase from RM850 to RM2,500 per month. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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