MARKET DEVELOPMENT
BUDGET: RM6 Billion To Implement Agricultural Programmes
BUDGET: RM6 Billion To Implement Agricultural Programmes
26/10/2013 (Bernama) - The government has allocated RM6 billion to implement agricultural programmes with highly-added and commercial values.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in his Budget presentation Friday, said among the main initiatives were to set up the Food and Agro Council for Export (FACE) which would be chaired by Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister, who will also function as a facilitator to increase export of local agri-products.
He said the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (FAMA) would be strengthened to play a more strategic role with the concept of from-farm-to-export market.
Najib said in a bid to ensure freshness of agro products, the government would provide the cold room facility at the KL International Airport.
He said apart from increasing export, the move was also expected to provide higher returns to the farmers.
"Since the demand and the price are high, we will also try to increase the export of durian to China," he said.
Najib said FAMA and the Malaysian Fishery Development Authority (LKIM) would open 60 more farmers' markets, 50 fish markets, 50 agro-caravan markets, while expanding 100 fresh fruit stalls nationwide to enable traders to sell their products directly to the consumers.
He said the government would allocate RM2.4 billion in subsidy and incentives, including fertilisers and padi seeds for padi farmers, and fish landing subsidy for fishermen.
"Besides, the government has also allocated RM243 million for replanting programmes for rubber, oil palm and cocoa trees," he said.
Najib said the government had allocated RM634 million under the national key economic areas to improve productivity and production of highly demanded agri-products.
He said the government would also implement lobster breeding project in Semporna, Sabah, with the cooperation from a multinational company to produce 18,000 tonnes of lobster, create 20,000 job opportunities and enable 6,000 local breeders to increase their monthly income by up to RM4,000.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in his Budget presentation Friday, said among the main initiatives were to set up the Food and Agro Council for Export (FACE) which would be chaired by Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister, who will also function as a facilitator to increase export of local agri-products.
He said the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (FAMA) would be strengthened to play a more strategic role with the concept of from-farm-to-export market.
Najib said in a bid to ensure freshness of agro products, the government would provide the cold room facility at the KL International Airport.
He said apart from increasing export, the move was also expected to provide higher returns to the farmers.
"Since the demand and the price are high, we will also try to increase the export of durian to China," he said.
Najib said FAMA and the Malaysian Fishery Development Authority (LKIM) would open 60 more farmers' markets, 50 fish markets, 50 agro-caravan markets, while expanding 100 fresh fruit stalls nationwide to enable traders to sell their products directly to the consumers.
He said the government would allocate RM2.4 billion in subsidy and incentives, including fertilisers and padi seeds for padi farmers, and fish landing subsidy for fishermen.
"Besides, the government has also allocated RM243 million for replanting programmes for rubber, oil palm and cocoa trees," he said.
Najib said the government had allocated RM634 million under the national key economic areas to improve productivity and production of highly demanded agri-products.
He said the government would also implement lobster breeding project in Semporna, Sabah, with the cooperation from a multinational company to produce 18,000 tonnes of lobster, create 20,000 job opportunities and enable 6,000 local breeders to increase their monthly income by up to RM4,000.