20/07/2021
WATER IRRIGATING OUR PADDY FIELD IN KEDAH, WHERE IT COMES FROM?
~ 我们吉打州灌溉水稻的水源从哪里来？~
This very pure and clean water for irrigation comes all the way from water catchment area at Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, the largest remaining tracts of virgin forest, located in the north-eastern of Kedah state, bordering Thailand (twice the size of Singapore) - a 170 million years old natural heritage.
This unique geographical position is an attraction for the wildlife which moves along the jungles of Thailand and Malaysia. It is an area of high biodiversity value, home to a lot of endangered species of wildlife. This forest has a number of Malaysia largest salt licks and hot mineral springs scattered around, they form an important source of mineral and vitamin supplements, for a variety of wildlife.
The water from this same catchment area is also responsible for supplying drinking water to 4 million people residing over 3 northern states, Kedah, Penang & Perlis.
Under the Muda Irrigation Project under the 1st Malaysia Plan, several dams were built within the Ulu Muda water catchment area in 1965. With the Muda irrigation project completed in 1970, paddy planting in Kedah transformed into 2 seasons yearly, further elevating Kedah's status as the Rice Bowl of Malaysia, which brings rice production in Kedah to meet 40% of local production.
Thanks God for this very precious, clean and pure water source, which allows Kedah farmers to grow and enjoy real good quality rice, unique in its taste and texture which cannot find elsewhere.
这个纯净的水源，来自吉打东北部与泰国边境为邻的森林保护区集水区。一说到森林保护区，大部人都会想到彭亨州或沙巴、砂拉越等地，殊不知被称为“稻米之乡”吉打州的东北处，拥有一片超过16万公顷 （面积相等于两个新加坡），被称为乌鲁慕达森林保护区（Ulu Muda Forest Reserve）的土地。它属于吉达州最大的热带雨林。也是一处还未被污染且保留原始风味的生态公园。这个延伸至泰国边界的生态公园，让动物们可以在两个国度之间，自由奔驰。
这片热带雨林的形成，是经过长达1.7亿年的演变。除了是超过上百种野生动物的栖息地，甚至是北马三州包括吉打、玻璃市与槟城主要生水供应来源的集水区。
这森林拥有非常丰富的资源（地质蕴藏着丰富的矿物质)，包括9个天然盐舔（Salt Lick)，矿物泉及温泉，这是动物，尤其是草食动物用来补充营养及矿物质的地方，也是可以观察到大量野生动物的集结点。
在马来西亚独立后，第一大马计划把慕达集水区计划推出，建设了水坝，1970年开始为吉打州提供了足够的水源把稻米耕种从原本的一年一季，增加到一年两季。这巩固了吉打州成为大马米仓的地位，也让吉打白米产量达到了40% 的国内产量。
这个纯净与珍贵的水源，造就了吉打州的好米，生产出它那口感独特，和其他产米区无法相比的稻米。
