KOTA BELUD: The Kota Belud Padi Estate project involving 762 farmers from Kampung Taun Gusi Kerajangan, Taun Gusi Padang, dan Jawi-Jawi is expected to start rice farming here late January next year.
State Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin said the project under the National Key Economic Area aimed to increase paddy production and to raise locals' income.
"We will start with 800 ha paddy field for the first phase, and will develop total of 5,000 ha by 2020,"he said during the handing over of incentives ceremony yesterday.
Among the identified farmers, only 160 of them received the first incentive payments as they had signed agreement for the project before Dec 14.
"They will be receiving RM 809.00 for each acre (0.40ha) and the amount will be given in five planting seasons," he said.
The minister also urged other farmers to be part of the project by contacting the ministry's officials or Farmers Organisation's representatives in the district.
Yahya said federal government had allocated RM14.3 mil for the project implementation.
"The ministry is also requesting for more fund to improve infrastructure development and attract investments in the project".
Other agencies involved in the project include the Sabah Agricultural Department, Sabah Drainage and Irrigation Department, Bernas, Agro Bank and ACM (S) Sdn Bhd.
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