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New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Pahang tipped to become key national agri-food hub under 13MP
KUANTAN: Pahang is poised to become a significant national agri-food hub under the proposed East Coast Food Production Hub announced in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), leveraging its strategic location and potential to drive growth in the sector. East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) chief executive officer Datuk Baidzawi Che Mat said Pahang, which covers more than half of the East Coast, is ideally positioned to spearhead national food production initiatives. He said the development of the hub would attract domestic and foreign investment, create job opportunities and strengthen the agri-food value chain from farm to market. "As an example, the Netherlands, a country roughly the size of Pahang, has become the world's second-largest agricultural exporter. "With strategic planning and sustainable approaches, Pahang has the potential to become Malaysia's leading agri-food hub," he told Bernama recently. Baidzawi said the hub would feature Collection, Processing and Packaging Centres (CPPCs), which would provide direct benefits to local farmers, in line with the aspirations of the National Agro-Food Policy 2.0. He added that the CPPCs' proximity to the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) would speed up the delivery of agricultural produce to domestic and international markets, boosting competitiveness and farmers' income. "With increased local food production and a focus on high-value crops such as durian, the hub will also help reduce the country's dependence on food imports," he said. Baidzawi noted that flood mitigation projects under 13MP would enable agri-food projects to be developed on previously flood-prone land. As part of this, ECERDC is collaborating with the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) to map flood-prone areas and identify flood-free agricultural zones using data-driven and satellite technology, supporting safer and more resilient food production zones. Meanwhile, Prof Dr Mohd Faizal Jamlos from the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology Faculty at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) recommended the use of geospatial technology such as drones to produce Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) or Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) for precision mapping of agricultural land. "These models provide valuable information to differentiate between high and low-lying areas easily. UMPSA has the technology and capability to carry out the data acquisition and processing required," he said. Faizal noted that the food production hub represents a strategic government investment to stimulate the local economy and ensure national food security. However, he stressed that attracting industry players and agropreneurs would require a well-developed ecosystem. Among the proposed incentives are competitive Temporary Occupation Licences (TOLs), access to basic infrastructure such as electricity, water and alternative energy sources, as well as relevant advisory services on market demand and crop suitability. He added that tax incentives, soft loans and grants, whether in cash or kind, could further encourage private sector participation. Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in tabling 13MP last Thursday, announced that the East Coast states of Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu would be developed through the creation of integrated, competitive national food production hubs, aimed at generating new economic opportunities, particularly for rural communities.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
2 years on, only 25% of Hindon floodplain mapping done
Ghaziabad: Two years after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the irrigation department to demarcate the Hindon floodplain across Ghaziabad and Noida, officials have admitted that only 200 sqkm of the 850 sqkm floodplain has been marked so far. The NGT's directive came after a flood in 2023 inundated several settlements along the Hindon's course in the two NCR cities. The state irrigation department had initially committed to completing the demarcation by July this year. However, it has now sought an extension till Nov, citing delays in complex drone survey processes. "We were directed in 2023 to begin demarcating the floodplain, which stretches across 850 sqkm in Ghaziabad and Noida. So far, we've covered about 200 sqkm. The process involves high-end drone surveys to generate Digital Surface Models (DSM), Digital Elevation Models (DEM), contour maps, and ortho-rectified imagery (ORI)," Raj Kumar Vern, the executive engineer of UP irrigation department, said. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida Vern added that six drone teams were currently working on the survey, and the department was also seeking technical assistance from the Survey of India and IIT Roorkee. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Is Why Smart People Put Baking Soda in Their Shampoo Read More Undo "Initially, we had planned to cover 75 sqkm per month, but topographical challenges and data processing needs have slowed us down," he said. Once the survey is complete, pillars marking the floodplain boundary will be installed along the riverbanks. The Hindon river stretches around 104km through Ghaziabad and Noida before merging into the Yamuna at Momnaathal in Greater Noida's Sector 150. Of this, around 45.5km lies within Noida, cutting through 28 villages. The irrigation department has built 42.5km of embankments in Noida and just 8km in Ghaziabad, leaving large portions of the riverbanks open to encroachments. Areas like Karhera, Ator-Nagla and Kanawani in Ghaziabad saw the worst damage in last year's floods, with illegal colonies that have mushroomed across floodplains in these locations, undermining flood safety measures. Despite the delay in demarcation, officials said that there is no immediate threat of flooding in the Hindon this monsoon. "Though the Yamuna level is rising due to water releases from Haryana, the Hindon remains stable. The water level near Vasundhara barrage is well below the danger mark of 205.08 metres," Vern clarified. Officials said that once the floodplain boundaries are physically marked, enforcement against future encroachments could become more effective.
