SARAWAK Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said the state will run trials this year if it is possible to use water meant for irrigating padi fields in rice growing areas of Sri Aman to generate electricity.
He said trials on the dual functional use of water would be at the coastal village of Stumbin, some 122km from Kuching.
Speaking at a Raya Aidilfitri gathering in the coastal town of Sebuyau, about 70km from Kuching, Abang Johari said the water drawn from Batang Lupar for irrigation, would first be pumped to elevated water tanks instead of going straight to the fields.
Then gravity would take over and the water would drop a pipe to turn the turbines at the base of the tanks.
The electricity generated would then be distributed via low tension overhead lines to power nearby villages, he said, adding that water from the turbines would then be collected in retention ponds and used to irrigate the padi fields.
Abang Johari said this 2-in-1 concept – water to generate electricity and used for irrigation - had never been done anywhere in the country.
“Let us be the pioneers,” he said.
He said he is optimistic of its success as he had done his studies.
“It has been found to be workable elsewhere,” he added.
He also said farmers have to be resourceful and use whatever resources they have to make a success of the agriculture sector.
Abang Johari said the dual use of water will not only improve the lives of remote communities with uninterrupted electricity, but the padi fields would also be a good source of income for the farmers and enhance food security of the state.
He said if padi production in the rice growing areas in Gedong, Tanjung Purun, Lingga, Sri Aman, Limbang and Lawas is on track, Sarawak would be self-sufficient in rice by 2026 or 2027.
“There is no need to import rice anymore. Instead we could even be a rice exporter,” he said.
Sarawak has started trials growing a new high yield variety of rice and has set a target of 40 tonnes of production a year.
The new variety enables five harvests a year compared to only one with the previous variety. – The Vibes, April 27, 2024.
