Alan Baird

Mr. Alan Baird is a Principal Urban Development Specialist in the Southeast Asia Department of the Asian Development Bank. Mr. Baird has over 30 years of experience in water supply, wastewater management, drainage, and flood alleviation. He has worked with water service providers in the private and public sectors in project delivery and technical advisory roles. Alan joined ADB in 2010 and currently supports ADB urban and water sector clients in Southeast Asia. Mr. Baird is a Chartered Engineer and a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Jelle Beekma

Jelle Beekma has over 30 years of experience in irrigation, drainage, water supply, and sanitation and (trans-boundary river basin management and related policy and institutional issues. Jelle has water management experience in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America as a government employee, researcher, consultant, and presently as senior water resources specialist for the Asian Development Bank, in the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department.

Luca Di Mario

Dr. Luca Di Mario is a Senior Urban Development Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Water and Urban Sector Group, currently sector focal for Türkiye and Kazakhstan. He joined ADB in 2016 as a Young Professional in the South Asia Urban Development and Water Division. As Team Leader, he has led the preparation and implementation of several urban infrastructure development and climate resilience sovereign investments in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and the Maldives. Between 2022 and 2024, he served as Senior Advisor to the ADB Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management. 

Paddy Production in Muda Area: From Individual Based to Commercial Farming

This paper discusses the development of Malaysia’s Muda Irrigation Scheme in terms of irrigation and drainage infrastructure. The key challenges faced by the farmers and efforts in meeting them are highlighted. It also describes the government’s attempts to transform the agriculture sector into a competitive, productive, and knowledge-intensive one.

Paddy Production in Muda Area: From Individual Based to Commercial Farming

This presentation discusses the development of Malaysia’s Muda Irrigation Scheme in terms of irrigation and drainage infrastructure. The key challenges faced by the farmers and efforts in meeting them are highlighted. It also describes the government’s attempts to transform the agriculture sector into a competitive, productive, and knowledge-intensive one.