PORT DICKSON: In efforts to ensure adequate production of agricultural and agro-based industry products, a total of 236 hectares of idle land throughout Negeri Sembilan was developed last year, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.

He said a total of RM1 million was allocated for the land development programme included the provision of areas, irrigation systems and agricultural input materials.

"A total of 236 hectares of idle land including old orchards that had been abandoned for more than five years have been cultivated with various vegetables and fruit trees.

"It also exceeds the target set by the state government - to develop 200 hectares of idle land annually. We want to make Negeri Sembilan a major producer of agricultural products for the Klang Valley," he told reporters.

He said this after officiating the presentation of the post-MCO (Movement Control Order) 1.0 Food Security Incentives here, today.

He said as at the end of February, the state government received more than 200 applications from entrepreneurs and farmers, especially youths, to work on the idle land and the state government had allocated RM1 million for agriculture graduates and young farmers.

There were complaints from farmers who worked on the land often faced the threat of wild animals such as wild boars and monkeys damaging crops, following which the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and the Department of Agriculture would work together to ensure the crops were protected, he said.

Earlier, Aminuddin presented the Post-MCO 1.0 Food Security Incentives to 136 farmers totalling RM500,000, and each recipient received agricultural inputs including fertilisers and seeds.

-- BERNAMA