PASIR PUTEH: The Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA) has allocated RM10 mil to help poor farmers to venture into small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Its Minister, Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, said the farmers taking part in the programme would be given equipment and training, including in producing traditional cakes which are still much in demand.
‘’The equipment is worth RM10,000 for every qualified participant,’’ he said after visiting a traditional cake entrepreneur under the ‘Rezeki Tani’ Programme, Mohd Nor Husain, 56, in Kampung Jelor here today.
Also present was Kemubu Agriculture Development Authority (KADA) chairman Datuk Husam Musa.
The ministry was prepared to increase the fund if it was was not enough to help farmers really needing the assistance, Salahuddin said.
Salahuddin also said he wants ministry officers to go to the field and seek out truly poor farmers and rope them into the programme without having to wait for applications to reach their offices to be processed.
Meanwhile, Mohd Nor said he could produce 250 to 300 traditional cakes a day especially ‘akok’, ‘baulu’ and ‘bederam’ after receiving the necessary equipment, since starting his endeavour four years ago.
‘’I earn from RM100 to RM150 a day which is lucrative for a village resident,’’ he added.
Mohd Nor, who is assisted by his wife, Sharifah Mat Hassan, 52, receives orders from the residents of Besut, other than the local market especially from those having weddings and other functions. – Jan 30, 2020, Bernama
