Aquaculture for all

Agriculture Ministry To Review 49 Projects

MALAYSIA - The Malaysian Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry is to review 49 agriculture and fishery projects nationwide implemented under the Ninth Malaysian Plan, to ensure they are beneficial to farmers and fishermen.

The minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said more focus would be given to projects with the potential to develop, whereas projects with unknown prospects, would be reviewed.

He said RM342 million was allocated by the ministry under the 9MP to implement these projects, with 11 being in progress.

"We will look back at our priorities. Projects with better prospects and margin will be given extra attention and encouragement," he told reporters.

Earlier, Mustapa visited a tiger grouper breeding project developed by Terengganu Agriculture Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (TADC), using the Flow-Through System, in Rhu 10.

Twenty-six part-time and full-time fishermen are involved in the project.

The RM3.5 million project, the first in the country, produces 2.5 tonnes of grouper fish every month for local and foreign markets, and generates monthly revenue of up to RM700,000.

Meanthile the government has said it is confident that five poverty eradication programmes of the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry will change the lives of farmers, breeders and fishermen to improve their living standards by 2020.

Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, said the programmes that encompassed all aspects of 'New Agriculture' were the Permanent Food Production Parks, Contract Farming, the National Feedlot Centre, Development of 10,000 Agro-Entrepreneurs and the Aquaculture Industry Zone.

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