The Kedah padi farming community has given positive feedback on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call to them to work with government agencies and departments to successfully implement all their projects.

Kartini Mat Rashid, 38, a padi farmer under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA), said such cooperation is much needed as the padi industry is now facing various issues and challenges to ensure the nation’s food security.

“The government departments and agencies have better skills and knowledge, so it is not wrong to work closely with them. The end result is to increase our production and incomes, and improve the state’s and country’s economy as well,” she told Bernama here today.

Ahmad Abu Bakar, 70, from Alor Setar, said padi farmers should cooperate with the relevant agencies, such as MADA, to help increase their yields and income.

"We need to work with these departments and agencies to increase our padi harvest. For example, if we need advice regarding seeds, fertilisers and padi diseases, we can ask the experts directly.

"When there is communication and cooperation between the parties, we can solve all the problems that arise, and benefit from the results, especially in terms of yield and income," he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ridzuan Azhar, 38, from Alor Setar, who helps cultivate his father's padi fields, said all parties needed to play their respective roles and responsibilities to realise the Prime Minister's wish to see Kedah progress out of poverty.

Earlier, during the Kedah-level Sentuhan MADANI programme with farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen, and rubber smallholders at the MADA headquarters here today, Anwar urged padi farmers to cooperate in making the five-season planting in two years pilot project sucessful, to improve the living standards of padi farmers.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil and Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency