Kelantan has transformed 3,332 hectares of idle land into productive farms since 2006, with state and federal funding exceeding RM26 million.
KOTA BHARU: The Kelantan Department of Agriculture has developed 3,332.92 hectares of previously idle land between 2006 and 2024.
State Agriculture, Agrofood Industry and Commodities Committee chairman Datuk Tuan Mohd Saripudin Tuan Ismail said total allocations exceeded RM26 million.
The state government allocated over RM12.6 million to develop 2,332.57 hectares of idle land.
The federal government contributed more than RM13.7 million for 1,000.35 hectares.
“These idle lands, either privately owned or leased, have been cultivated with permanent crops such as coconut, durian and limau madu, as well as cash crops like watermelon, pineapple, chilli, cucumber, corn, melon and various vegetables,” he said at the State Legislative Assembly sitting.
He was responding to a question from Kamaruzaman Mohamad (PAS-Gual Periok) about idle land development plans.
The minimum area eligible for development under the State Agriculture Department’s allocation is 0.4 hectares.
Funding is provided at a rate of RM25,000 per hectare.
Incentives cover infrastructure components such as site clearing and preparation.
They also include purchase of inputs, mechanisation and agricultural equipment, plus farm infrastructure including irrigation and drainage systems.
The Kelantan State Agricultural Development Corporation is developing Agrovalley Rong Chenok in Pasir Mas.
This project covers over 109 hectares for agricultural activities including hydroponic vegetable farming and chilli cultivation using fertigation technology.
Freshwater fish breeding is also part of the Agrovalley development.
For the 2025-2026 plan, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has approved several allocations to enhance agricultural activities at Agrovalley Rong Chenok.
These include cultivation of livestock feed crops like Napier grass, plus fruit crops such as honey melon and banana.
Kelantan Agricultural Group Berhad has developed agricultural projects on land owned by the Kelantan Islamic Foundation.
This enhances the value of idle land through group farming projects involving local farmers around Tanah Merah.
Kelantan Biotech Corporation Sdn Bhd contributes to the food agriculture sector by promoting high-quality banana seedlings.
These seedlings are produced using plant tissue culture technology and marketed to farmers. – Bernama
