By Danial Dzulkifly
The state is leveraging technology to build a food bank and reduce its reliance on imports.
SELANGOR is taking decisive action to enhance its commitment to food security by developing the Kuala Selangor and Hulu Selangor development zones.
State executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim said this ambitious project is designed to create a robust food supply system for the state, including a food bank capable of maintaining up to three months of reserves.
He said this would address lessons learned during the Covid-19 pandemic, when global and regional disruptions exacerbated food supply challenges.
According to Izham, the new development zones will focus exclusively on agricultural projects to ensure the state has adequate essential food reserves and stabilise market supply during shortages.
“Our goal is to make Selangor more self-reliant in terms of food supplies. The existing Smart Selangor Agro Park (SSAP) and Selangor food bank initiatives are central to this strategy,” he said in a recent interview with Selangor Journal.
SSAP is planned as an aquaculture hub in Selangor and will span approximately 1,000 acres in Sungai Asam Jawa, Kuala Selangor.
It will focus on organic tiger prawn and white prawn farming to reduce the state’s dependence on external sources for these products.
Additionally, the state will develop a food bank or stockpile with a budget of RM40 million. This was announced in November last year as part of the 2024 Selangor Budget.
The 10-acre facility in Kuala Selangor will store essential food items such as rice, chicken, and other vital protein and carbohydrate sources.
“Initially, we plan to store between 4,000 and 5,000 tonnes of rice, aiming to cover up to three months of Selangor’s needs,” said Izham.
He stated that the project will begin by meeting at least 15 per cent of the state’s monthly demand.
Tackling legal issues
Izham said that these projects are expected to commence early next year as the state addresses on-the-ground challenges in the new development area. These issues include harmonising land ownership and dealing with abandoned lands with unclear legal claims.
“There are also trespassing issues on these lands due to unclear ownership. These are among the problems we aim to resolve,” he said.
Plans to develop the Kuala Selangor and Hulu Selangor Development Zone were first announced by Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari during the tabling of the First Selangor Plan’s (RS-1) mid-term review early in July.
Amirudin had said that the zone would be developed as an agriculture and aquaculture hub, with developments using modern technologies, including automation, sensors for plant monitoring, and hydroponic or aeroponic techniques, to increase productivity and efficiency in the agriculture sector.
It is Selangor’s fourth regional development plan, after the Sabak Bernam Development Area (Sabda), the Integrated Development Region in South Selangor (Idriss), and the Selangor Maritime Gateway Economic Development Zone (ZPE SMG).
Izham stated that the new development zone differs from the other projects as it is specifically focused on ensuring food security for the state.
“There will be investment opportunities for more agricultural projects in the new zone. But before we officially open it (for private investments), we are focusing on resolving existing issues first,” he said.
To ensure the zone’s objectives are met, the state also fosters strategic partnerships for the food bank’s smooth operation.
“Our partners will store essential items at their locations, and the state government will conduct regular audits to mitigate risks such as those experienced during the pandemic or sudden spikes in food prices,” he said.
More land for farming
Izham also revealed that the state is formulating a five-year agriculture plan from 2025 to 2030 to reduce reliance on food imports.
This plan is expected to be rolled out next year.
Other agricultural developments in the state include a corn farm in Tanjung Sepat, which is meant to be used for poultry farming and the expansion of agricultural lands across Selangor.
“We are increasing the land area for these projects to over 500 acres, with significant portions in Kuala Langat, Hulu Selangor, and Rawang.”
Selangor is also in discussion with other states, including Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak, to allow them to replicate its corn farming initiative, strengthening food security across the country.
On July 24, Izham said that Selangor would collaborate with other states to expand the production of high-quality grain corn and that the state government is currently identifying suitable land for this purpose.
Selangor successfully cultivated its inaugural batch of grain corn on January 21, with a total of 118 metric tonnes of the crop harvested from 42 acres of land at a plantation in Kuala Langat.
This article first appeared in the Selangor Journal September 2024 special edition, published on September 7, 2024.
