By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
SHAH ALAM, Dec 7 — Selangor is currently identifying unused government land for development, to be used for suitable agricultural activities, including a permanent park for a food production project.
State exco for agro-based industry Izham Hashim this is due to the shortage of agricultural land needed to guarantee food security for Selangor.
He said there are 11 projects currently being managed by the Agriculture Department, Veterinary Department, and Fisheries Department, encompassing 1,300 hectares worth RM38 million a year.
“(However) this is not enough to resolve the issue of supply security, therefore the state government decided under the Selangor Transformation Plan to add suitable land for the people to venture into agriculture and increase yields,” Izham said during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting here today.
He was responding to a question from Sijangkang assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Yunus Hairi, regarding plans for the people’s agriculture programme to use idle government land.
Meanwhile, Izham said every farmer in the state will receive between one to two tonnes of compost fertiliser, to ease their burden due to the rising cost of agricultural production.
He also encouraged farmers to use high-quality local products, as well as to reduce their pollution output.
“We will get the names of farmers in each state constituency and send it (fertiliser) directly to them, rather than being sent for them to collect at the community service centres.
“For state constituencies with a high number of farmers, they will be given two tonnes of compost organic fertiliser,” he said.
