BELURAN: Since the establishment of the Urban Agriculture Division in the Malaysia Agriculture Department in 2014, 124,988 people from 5,065 locations were involved in various programmes and categories through the practice of modern and conventional agricultural technology.
Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee said during the 11th Malaysia Plan (2016-2019), about 93,937 people from 3,815 locations were involved in urban agriculture programmes.
“A study on the impact of Urban Agriculture programme by the Agriculture Department in 2017 found that there was estimated savings of RM108 per month for participants who participated in the programme.
“The Government is confident that with the implementation of this urban agriculture project, it will help reduce cost of living, provide employment opportunities and generate additional income with the aim of helping Malaysians, especially urban and sub-urban residents affected by the Movement Control Order,” he said.
Kiandee, who is also Beluran Member of Parliament, said this during a meeting and friendly survey with the Beluran Township community at the Sg Labuk Housing Estate, here, Saturday.
According to Kiandee, the programme was implemented to introduce and encourage urban agriculture activities among the Beluran community.
“This is in line with the intention of the Government in the Economic Stimulus Package towards increasing income and reducing the cost of living.
“Through this programme, the community will be introduced with various urban agriculture packages and technology depending on the location and circumstances of the community.
“My Ministry aims for an allocation of RM10 million under the National Economic Renaissance Package,” Kiandee said, adding that the allocation will benefit 800 communities and 12,000 new individuals in urban agriculture programmes.
“Involvement of people in food production activities can increase income and, thus, reduce the cost of living in the city.
“Such programmes also show that the Government is serious about its efforts to ensure the quality and security of the nation’s food supply.
“Beluran residents can also grow and produce their own food to meet their daily needs and reduce their living costs while increasing their income through the sale of surplus produce,” he said.
The Government allocated provisions in the National Economic Rebuilding Plan (Penjana) to provide in-kind donations such as seeds, fertilisers, infrastructure, equipment, advisory services and others worth RM500 for individual recipients and RM50,000 for each community.
