KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs will undertake a RM1 billion cash crop project to help restore Felda’s financial health within five years.
Its minister, Datuk Salahuddin Ayub, said the decision was made at the meeting of the National Physical Planning Council (NPPC) on Friday with Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali who tabled the new approach.
“To restore Felda’s financial position, perhaps a quarter of the RM1 billion will be used to start the project.
“Indeed these two ministries must cooperate in this effort.
“The MOA has the expertise through agencies such as Mardi (Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute) and Fama (Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority), which will take on the role of helping Felda and making the cash crop concept a success,” Salahuddin told a press conference after a Town Hall session with MOA customers, here, today.
Describing it as a big challenge for his ministry, Salahuddin said the secretary-generals of both ministries would start the discussion while further measures would be taken at the ministerial level to help Felda increase its income.
On April 10, Azmin had tabled the Felda white paper themed “Towards Felda’s Sustainability” in Parliament which explains the issues faced by Felda and its restoration plan to win back public confidence in the agency and to safeguard the interest of settlers.
Salahuddin, who had earlier attended the Meet-the Customers programme organised by Fama, said he had received feedback from local entrepreneurs onhelping them expand their businesses.
He said FAMA needed to improve the online business platform, www.agrobazaar.com.my as online marketing was the trend now and had huge potential to help local entrepreneurs market their products.
Meanwhile, Fama chairman Ishak Ismail said sales via the agrobazaar portal reached RM4.5 million last year and involved 4,840 registered marketers.
“Online marketing is a popular sales medium now due to the fast and convenient transactions with delivery service also provided,” he added. - BERNAMA