IADA allocates RM90,000 to level padi land in Pasir Puteh

PASIR PUTEH - The Kemasin Semerak Integrated Agriculture Development Area (IADA) has provided an allocation of RM90,000 to implement work to level 50 hectares of land for padi planting in the Gaal area, here.

IADA director, Rohani Jusoh said IADA would use the laser surveillance method to achieve good levelling work by using the uniformity index technology.

"A total of 63 farmers in the Gaal area will be supplied with the NMR152 padi seeds involving procurement of seed input totalling RM19,845.

"This seed is resistant to diseases and does not require a lot of water supply and suitable for this area which often faces water shortage during the drought season,” she said.

She said this to reporters after the launching of the IADA Padi Yield Improvement Campaign here today by Agriculture and Food Industries deputy minister Datuk Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh.

Elaborating, Rohani said IADA targeted the padi yield would go up two to three times compared to the current harvest.

"Among the factors influencing padi yield in this area is the problem of insufficient water supply so nearby streams must be blocked (air tandak) and the water channelled to the padi fields to ensure there is always sufficient water to boost the padi output,” she added. - BERNAMA