ALOR SETAR: Padi farmers need to consolidate their padi smallholdings and operate them professionally as estates, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The prime minister said if this was not done, the farmers would continue to be among the poorest in the country who continue to depend on subsidies to manage their land.
He said a two to three hectares of rice fields could not benefit farmers much, similar to oil palm or rubber plantations which were managed on a small scale.
“Therefore, we have to turn the padi field into a bigger farm covering 1,000 to 2,000 hectares, and managed by experts and skilled individuals, much like in oil palm and rubber plantation companies.
“The padi farm can then use the best crop planting methods, modern tools and machinery, and fertilisers to boost padi yield, so that farmers would be able to reap big profits.
"The farm can also be cultivated with other crops such as vegetables, durian, pineapple or rear poultry, so that they can get an all-year returns, compared to just six months at present," he told reporters after launching the National Padi Convention 2019 here today.
The event was also attended by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub.
Dr Mahathir said the proposed changes might be radical and difficult to implement in the traditional context, but they need to be done to ensure a better future for the farmers.
“If this method is accepted, I am convinced that farmers will no longer be poor. The country imports about RM60 billion worth of vegetables a year. With modern techniques, we do not need vast tracts of land to produce a bigger yield and replace the imported vegetables.
"Farmers can also work on the padi fields and earn income without losing their rights and profit, according to the size of the combined land," he said.
Dr Mahathir said efforts to consolidate rice fields in Kedah had been carried out earlier in Asam Jawa, Pendang, involving about 10 farmers, but it also faced problems.