Friday, April 25, 2008

Kedah to open up 6,000 acres for padi planting - NST

PENDANG, Fri.: April 25, 2008

The Kedah satte government will open up another 6,000 acres of land for padi planting in an effort to increase padi output to overcome rice shortage in the country.

Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak said the state government had discussed the matter with the Muda Agricultural Development Board (Mada) and will make it a reality very soon.

“Now the state government is only waiting for an agreement from the federal government to help us open the new areas.

“The locations identified are Mada fringe areas in Yan and Pendang,” he told reporters after handing out aid to storm victims here today.

Azizan said the state government will also discuss with Mada on initiatives to increase annual padi output from four times to five.

Azizan said to increase padi output, the state government would not allow development on padi-planting land.

“Many other areas can be developed. We need to increase padi output to ensure sufficient rice supply,” he said.

Earlier, Azizan gave aid worth RM10,000 to 58 house owners affected by the storm last Tuesday.

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