TELUPID: The Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry (Maffi) has urged all department and agency staff under its purview to be more proactive in going to the ground.
Its minister, Datuk Jamawi Jaffar, said at least 60 per cent of working time should be spent in the field to monitor conditions, identify needs and resolve farmers’ problems.
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He said the Agriculture Department, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage and the Rural Development Cooperative should also station officers in paddy cultivation areas to enable direct engagement with farmers.
Jamawi said the move was important to ensure issues are addressed more quickly and effectively while demonstrating the ministry’s commitment to safeguarding farmers’ welfare statewide, adding that he would return within two months to assess progress on priority facility repairs and maintenance.
During the visit to Trusan Sapi on Monday, he also advised the use of insecticides recommended by the Agriculture Department, appropriate paddy seed selection and more efficient drainage system construction and maintenance, and received a briefing from Desa Padi Plantation Sdn Bhd director Datuk Yap Yun Fook.
