ARAU, Aug 21 —The Mada Mini Sekinchan Large-Scale Smart Paddy Project (SMART SBB), in Kampung Lat 1000, not only imparts knowledge to farmers on effective rice cultivation methods, but is also able to increase the farmers’ income.
E-I Simpang Empat Farmers’ Organisation Unit head, Mohd Radzi Mat Lahim, said that the pilot project was well received by the farmers, as they were not only taught proper farming methods, but also shown how to increase their income.
“The seed used is Mardi Siraj 297, a high quality. Disease-resistant seed, similar to that used by rice farmers in Sekinchan, Selangor.
“Controlling rice cultivation through this method is more effective, because it is more systematically organised, from planting, fertilising and harvesting,” said a 62-year-old farmer, who cultivates 1.43 hectares of rice in the project at Kampung Lat 1000.
Mohd Radzi said many farmers in Kampung Lat 1000 and surrounding areas expressed interest in participating in this pilot project, because they could see the results with their own eyes.
He added that the pilot project covered 97.70 hectares of land with 28 participants.
“We hope that this project can be expanded in the future so that more farmers can participate.”
One of the participants, Low Yin Foo, 66, also believed that the smart farming technology used not only makes it easier to work in the paddy fields, but can also increase rice yields.
He said with this technique, farmers are taught correct crop control methods and many new things can be learned.
“The rice produced is more compact and heavier,” said Low, who has more than 40 years of experience in rice cultivation and grows 3.4 hectares of rice in Kampung Lat 1000.
Low also expressed confidence that the rice yield can increase by up to 20 per cent if weather conditions are good.
“Many of my friends want to participate in this project because they were amazed to see the rice yields.”
Meanwhile, a farmer, Mat Yusof Abu Bakar, 61, said that he would like to participate in the project if given the opportunity, because he wants to learn the proper techniques of planting, care and harvesting.
“From the other farmers’ stories and seeing the rice fields here, you can see that the rice is of good quality and resistant to diseases,” said Mat Yusof, who grows 8.6 hectares of rice in Sanglang.
— Bernama
