IPOH: The Perak government today launched its RM1 million AgroPrihatin Scheme to help farmers who are badly affected by the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) following the spread of Covid-19.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (pix) said under the scheme, the State Agricultural Development Corporation (PPPNP) would buy unsold agricultural produce to help alleviate the burden of farmers while ensuring sustainability and stability of the supply of agricultural products in the state.
“All purchases will be made in cash to enable capital liquidation for farmers registered with the State Agriculture Department (JPNP), the Perak Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) and the PPPNP,” he said in his Facebook Live video today.
Ahmad Faizal, who is also PPPNP Board chairman, said the scheme is based on strategic partnership and cooperation between the state government, through the PPPNP, and KLK Berhad, Agroto Business, Selama Area Farmers’ Organisation as well as the Central Kitchen operators.
He said the agricultural products purchased by the PPPNP would be sold directly to KLK Berhad and oil palm plantation companies in the state to be distributed among approximately 10,000 of their workers.
Whereas a corporate entity, Agroto Business, has also shown keen interests to help market the products at major supermarkets, he said.
The Mentri Besar said as corporate social responsibility, part of the products would also be channelled to the Central Kitchen operators across the state to enable them to prepare meals for the frontliners fighting the pandemic in the state.
He said based on data from the JPNP and its agencies, the production of agricultural produce in Perak until April 14 was estimated to exceed 13,000 tonnes.
It is estimated that between 20% and 30% of agricultural produce could not be sold due to low demand from wholesalers, hotels and restaurants following the MCO.
Hence, affected farmers were advised to register with the JPNP, Fama and PPPNP to facilitate the distribution of aid, and to visit the agencies’ websites and social media sites for more information.
For further enquiries, they can also call Norafiza Abu Seman (013-5000894) at the PPPNP, Raudah Talib (017-3981454) at JPNP, and Mohamad Fikri Mohamad Hashim (017-3624087) at Perak Fama. - Bernama
