Alor setar: The Kedah state government has been urged to consider implementing development projects beyond the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) area, especially in regions with high potential for rice production. MADA Chairman Datuk Dr. Ismail Salleh emphasized the importance of strategic planning in land development to safeguard national food security.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr. Ismail acknowledged the state government’s need for revenue generation but insisted that development should occur outside the MADA area or in regions with low agricultural yields, avoiding high-potential districts such as Kubang Pasu, Kota Setar, and Yan. He warned that development in areas equipped with irrigation and farming infrastructure could lead to significant losses.

Dr. Ismail addressed the proposal for a new paddy cultivation area, MADA Plus, intended to replace existing rice fields impacted by state development, spanning over 15,000 hectares. He noted that Kedah has already lost 8,758 hectares of paddy fields to land conversion in the last 50 years, and the new proposal could further reduce paddy cultivation.

He assured that MADA is open to collaborating with the state government to ensure balanced development, pledging that rice production in Kedah will remain stable despite a reduction in paddy areas. MADA plans to enhance yields through large-scale cultivation and scheduling five planting seasons over two years.

Dr. Ismail also reminded farmers to follow the paddy planting schedule for the 2/2025 Season, with final sowing dates set for October 29 for Phase I, November 8 for Phase II, and November 18 for Phase III. He highlighted that current water storage levels in MADA’s dams are at 49 percent, impacting the planting schedule.

He urged farmers to comply with the schedule and adopt prescribed planting methods to maintain optimal paddy yields.