BUTTERWORTH:The state government is considering gazetting 12,163 ha of padi fields in the state to protect the land from being converted into residential and commercial use.

The move is part of a long-term plan to ensure sustainability of rice production and supply.

State Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman Law Choo Kiang said the size of padi fields in the state had been shrinking over the years due to development.

"We are gathering more information from the agencies before preparing a proposal to gazette the padi fields as permanent agricultural land," he said after attending the monthly Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee meeting at the Integrated Agricultural Development Authority (IADA) office in Seberang Jaya yesterday.

Law said once the proposal was ready, it would be tabled at the state executive council meeting.
Pending the gazetting process, the state government would be imposing strict guidelines on any application to convert padi fields for other purposes.

Law said Penang would be getting an additional supply of 16,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand and Vietnam by next week.

The supply would complement the current 42,950 tonnes of padi stock in the state.

The stock is expected to be enough for the next six months.