Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) anticipates the commencement of the padi planting process for Season 1/2026 in Kedah shortly, as announced by its minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu. More than half of the padi farmers in Kedah have progressed to the ploughing stage, preparing for the upcoming planting activities.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad Sabu highlighted that over 50 percent of fields are already in the ploughing process, with water present in the padi fields despite unsatisfactory dam levels. The farmers will commence planting soon due to the ongoing ploughing, ensuring they are ready for the season.
Recent media reports indicated that nearly 90 percent of padi farmers in Kedah, especially those in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) area, faced delays in planting for Season 1/2026. Challenges such as rising operating costs and water supply shortages have been significant hurdles. Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia (PeSAWAH) chairman Abdul Rashid Yob warned that these issues might disrupt planting schedules, potentially affecting the country's rice self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) over time.
Addressing concerns about the potential impact on the SSR, Mohamad assured that the ministry has measures to counter any shortfall. He expressed confidence in overcoming the challenges to maintain the SSR at the desired level. Additionally, Mohamad acknowledged reports concerning flower cultivation issues in the Cameron Highlands and instructed the ministry to investigate and review the situation.
In relation to the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agro-Tourism Exhibition 2026 (MAHA 2026), Mohamad mentioned plans for the event scheduled from August 28 to September 6. The exhibition aims to attract potential investments worth RM8 billion, focusing on modernising agricultural technology globally and locally. For context, the previous MAHA 2024 event recorded 81 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements (MoAs) with a total investment value of RM7.2 billion. MAHA is a biennial mega event held at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS).