SUNGAI BESAR: The Selangor government has allocated a RM100,000 incentive scheme to reward area padi planting committees for their exemplary efforts, said Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.“It is a way of appreciating the ideas and efforts contributed by members of the committees. The incentives will be given out from this year,” he said in a briefing in conjunction with a padi-harvesting ceremony officiated by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah at Kampung Parit 15, Simpang Lima yesterday.
Under the scheme, the champion will receive RM50,000, first runner-up RM30,000 and second runner-up RM20,000.
The committee comprises representatives from the Agriculture Department, the Drainage and Irrigation Department, area farmer organisations, village heads, padi block leaders and farmers’ representatives.
Abdul Khalid said under the state’s strategic plan, Sabak Bernam and Kuala Selangor’s average harvest was expected to increase from 5.1 tonnes to 7.5 tonnes per ha a season by 2013.
“As such, padi production from the areas are expected to increase from 110,000 tonnes to 140,000 tonnes per season at the end of 2013 while the per capita income of padi farmers is set to rise from RM14,475 to RM20,475 per year,” he added.
He said the programme would benefit 9,322 farmers cultivating 18,355ha of padi field in Sabak Bernam and Kuala Selangor and initial results in three pioneer projects showed that the income of farmers had increased. — Bernama
In one of the project, 68 per cent of the farmers are earning about RM1,500 a month and 15 more about RM2,000 a month, he added.
To mark his visit, the Sultan of Selangor operated a combine harvester in one plot of the padi field. — Bernama