Kuala lumpur: The ginger, rockmelon, and onion plantation development project in Merlimau Pantai, which is implemented through a collaboration between the Melaka and Federal governments, has successfully transformed previously idle government land into productive agricultural areas, said state Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security Committee chairman Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the RM3 million allocation under the Food Security initiative has not only increased food production and created job opportunities for local residents, but also put previously unused government land, once overgrown with bushes and undergrowth, to productive use. The allocation was used for the initial site clearance work, the provision of supporting infrastructure, and the planting phase until the agricultural project began to produce results.

Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh explained, "This is one example of how idle government land has been developed into ginger, rockmelon and onion farms, and Alhamdulillah, this project has started to yield results." He also mentioned that the model has been successfully implemented and there are plans to expand it to other areas with idle government land.

The project was implemented through the 'anchor' concept, with the lead company training and employing about 15 villagers as farmers to cultivate the crops. Additionally, every participant was provided a plot of land to cultivate themselves, with the produce sold directly to the market, thereby helping to increase their income.