Penang’s padi yield highest in the country, state assembly told

 

A harvester on a padi field in Kepala Batas, Penang, in 2019. (CM’s Office pic)

GEORGE TOWN: Penang recorded the highest average padi yield in the country over the past two years, a state assembly reply on the food security situation in the state showed.

State executive councillor Norlela Ariffin (PH-Penanti) said the yield has seen a steady increase since 2019 at 4.66 metric tonnes per hectare (mt/ha) and last year, it rose to 5.02mt/ha.

The state has set an average of 6mt/ha target since 2019, while the national yield average is a reported 4.9mt/ha.

While Perlis and Kedah’s latest yields are yet to be known, they are reported to be at an average of 5mt/ha but hampered by irrigation problems and reports of more fields being cleared for development.

When contacted, Norlela said Penang’s padi yield has been on a steady rise despite a relatively small 12,000-odd hectare of fields in the state, mostly in the upper reaches of Butterworth and Balik Pulau on the island.

Neighbouring Kedah has about 80,000ha of rice fields, reports indicate.

Norlela said in Kg Terus in her constituency east of Bukit Mertajam, farmers are able to achieve a yield of 8 tonnes per hectare from one farm alone.

She said disease-resistant padi, fertile soil conditions and good irrigation have allowed the yield to be the best in the country.

“There is also drone monitoring and soil mapping of these areas done regularly to ensure growth. Penang often outshines the rest of the country by having the best yield per hectare.

“We think it’s the water and good irrigation that has led us to high output,” she told FMT in explaining her reply in the assembly to Lee Khai Loon (PH-Machang Bubok).

Separately, Penang was also self-sustaining in terms of poultry, rearing 78,000 metric tonnes of chicken, pigs (32,155 tonnes), cows/buffaloes (4,600 tonnes), ducks (1,554 tonnes), and goats/sheep (209 tonnes) last year.

A state assembly reply also showed Penang’s demand for chicken and duck eggs was higher than what was being produced, with a demand of 453.9 million eggs last year. This was compared to the production of chicken eggs at 185.2 million, while duck eggs were at 9 million.

Cow’s milk production last year was at 712,837 litres, while goat’s milk was at 284,958 litres. - FMT