KOTA TINGGI: Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (pix) has called on the Felda settlers to work together to ensure the success of the new agriculture policy goals.
Azmin said the new policy, which combined the low productivity land to become a larger estate professionally managed using the latest technology, was aimed at reducing the dependence of Felda settlers on commodity yields and providing better income to the group.
He said the policy initiative had already begun in Felda Bukit Rokan, Negeri Sembilan where 31.16ha of land were being developed with mushroom and rabbit farming industry.
“This (project) will definitely help the people of Felda. We cannot rely on rubber and palm oil commodities, because the prices are not sustainable.
“That’s why we proposed for Felda people and settlers to get involved in the new business model so that even when prices for these commodities dropped, they still have the additional income from cash crops such as chillies, vegetables and fruits,” he told reporters after handing over house keys of the Felda New Generation Housing (PGBF) projects at Felda Sungai Sibol here today.
Also present were Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal and Deputy Economic Affairs Minister Dr Radzi Jidin.
On the housing project, Azmin said nearly 5,000 units needed to be completed within two years.
“There are houses that have been abandoned for over six years for example in Sungai Sibol and the houses in a few other places have been abandoned for over ten years.
“So, through the Felda White Paper tabled last year, RM250 million had been allocated by the government to complete the houses including RM3.4 million for 360 units of houses in Sungai Sibol,“ he said. — Bernama
