ID :
27099
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 18:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/27099
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PM LAUDED AS CHAMPION OF AGRICULTURE
SERDANG (Malaysia), Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed Tuesday lauded Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as a main champion of the agriculture sector.
He said agriculture was close to the prime minister's heart and various
programmes and strategies had been mooted by Abdullah to develop the
sector.
Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the allocation for the agriculture sector
was
raised three folds to almost RM10 billion from RM3 billion previously while
those of other ministries received cuts, he said at a gathering with farmers at
the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park here.
In addition, he said, the government set aside RM3 billion under the
National Food Security Policy in May to ensure adequate food supply including by
raising the cost of living allowance for fishermen, fertilizer assistance and
aid for manufacturers.
Mustapa said the country was slightly worried in May when there was a
shortage in the supply of rice but with Abdullah's quick action, the problem had
been overcome.
He said Abdullah also gave new breath to the sector by introducing modern
and commercial farming using ICT applications and promoting biotechnology.
Presently, there were various new types of pineapple and chilli being
produced and 45 permanent areas for food production and 300 farmers market
networks involving 13,000 farmers already in operation, he said.
Malaysia also exported 40 million pineapples in the first nine months of
the
year in addition to producing 300 tonnes of freshwater fish and expanding its
padi (paddy) estates from 8,000 hectares presently to 20,000 hectares by 2020,
he added.
Meanwhile, Agro Bank whose capital had been raised to RM1 billion, had
disbursed loans to 13,000 farmers last year and another 13,000 farmers in the
Jan-Sept period this year.
Mustapa said over RM300 million of the Ninth Malaysia Plan allocation was
for agricultural mechanisation.
"Even this Malaysia Agro Exposition Park building worth RM250 million was
Abdullah's idea," he said.
"We are grateful because Abdullah is the only leader who fights for us all.
He brings transformation to the agriculture sector to raise the income of
farmers," he said.
Mustapa said the agro exposition park would be open to the public on
weekends from next week and it would have a farmers market from December.
He said agriculture was close to the prime minister's heart and various
programmes and strategies had been mooted by Abdullah to develop the
sector.
Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the allocation for the agriculture sector
was
raised three folds to almost RM10 billion from RM3 billion previously while
those of other ministries received cuts, he said at a gathering with farmers at
the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park here.
In addition, he said, the government set aside RM3 billion under the
National Food Security Policy in May to ensure adequate food supply including by
raising the cost of living allowance for fishermen, fertilizer assistance and
aid for manufacturers.
Mustapa said the country was slightly worried in May when there was a
shortage in the supply of rice but with Abdullah's quick action, the problem had
been overcome.
He said Abdullah also gave new breath to the sector by introducing modern
and commercial farming using ICT applications and promoting biotechnology.
Presently, there were various new types of pineapple and chilli being
produced and 45 permanent areas for food production and 300 farmers market
networks involving 13,000 farmers already in operation, he said.
Malaysia also exported 40 million pineapples in the first nine months of
the
year in addition to producing 300 tonnes of freshwater fish and expanding its
padi (paddy) estates from 8,000 hectares presently to 20,000 hectares by 2020,
he added.
Meanwhile, Agro Bank whose capital had been raised to RM1 billion, had
disbursed loans to 13,000 farmers last year and another 13,000 farmers in the
Jan-Sept period this year.
Mustapa said over RM300 million of the Ninth Malaysia Plan allocation was
for agricultural mechanisation.
"Even this Malaysia Agro Exposition Park building worth RM250 million was
Abdullah's idea," he said.
"We are grateful because Abdullah is the only leader who fights for us all.
He brings transformation to the agriculture sector to raise the income of
farmers," he said.
Mustapa said the agro exposition park would be open to the public on
weekends from next week and it would have a farmers market from December.
