The Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry will seek around
RM6bil as additional allocation to fund an increase in rice production to
overcome the dwindling exports from top rice-producing nations.
The allocation is needed to upgrade the irrigation system, improve the
farming infrastructure and to cultivate new padi fields in Pahang, Sabah and
Sarawak, Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said.

?The Cabinet has ordered the ministry to make recommendations on how
to boost padi production and we have proposed an additional allocation of
RM6bil towards this end,? Mustapa, who is tJeli MP, said after visiting the
family of Nurul Anira Che Rosik, 17, who was raped and murdered here last
weekend after attending tuition.

Recently, the Government ordered an increase in domestic rice
production to counter possible lower imports as top rice-producing nations
scale back exports due to their own acute commodity shortages.

To boost production, the ministry would need to upgrade infrastructure
at the Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada) in Kedah and the Kemubu
Agriculture Development Authority (Kada) in Kelantan.

A total of RM923mil of the RM6bil is needed just for this year,
Mustapa said, adding that the sum was not small but it showed the commitment
of the Federal Government to assist low-income farmers.

He said only by helping farmers can the country boost rice production.

Mustapa also said the target to boost rice production by 20% may not
be attainable if the country encountered land acquisition problems and if
there were natural disasters like floods.

He also guaranteed that farmers in the five Pakatan Rakyat states
would continue to enjoy subsidies in fertiliser, seeds and pesticides.s.

Commenting on the teenage girl?s murder, Mustapa suggested that all
young students in rural areas be placed in hostels as part of measures to
protect their lives.


[thestar.com.my]