COUPLE PLANTS HILL PADDY IN RUBBER PLANTATION

BALING (Malaysia), Dec 19 (Bernama) -- Rarely do we see hill paddy grown in
rubber plantations, especially in northern state of Kedah, which is Malaysia's
rice bowl state.

However, rubber smallholders Abdullah Abd Ghani, 65, and wife, Salamah
Ismail, 60, did what most rubber tappers in Kedah would not have done or thought
of.

The couple, from Kampung Bukit Palong, Bongor, here, has ventured into hill
paddy cultivation in an area covering about a hectare in their rubber
plantation, and the project, carried out six months ago, proves a
success.

The crop, of the Sungkai hill paddy variety, is ready for harvesting, says
Abdullah when met at his paddy field here.

He said harvesting of the hill paddy, using a special tool, was done with
the help of villagers.

He said hill paddy, especially of the "Sungkai" and "Taring Pelanduk"
variety were more tasteful and aromatic, but seldom grown by padi farmers in
Baling because of the risks involved, like crop pest and wild boar which damaged
their crop.

Following the success of his first crop, Abdullah is determined to continue
with hill paddy cultivation and is hoping to get assistance from the Agriculture
Department to carry out the project on a commercial scale.

"There are a few villagers who have tried hill paddy planting, but most of
them failed because their crop was damaged by wild boar," he said, adding that
the problem could be overcome with assistance from the Agriculture Department.
-- BERNAMA