PM: Felcra Berhad should become a leader in food supply industry
KUALA LUMPUR: The government wants Felcra Berhad to be one of the major leaders in the country’s food security industry, particularly in the supply of chicken, meat and food crops, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Prime Minister believed that based on the agency’s strength, it could provide a significant contribution in reducing the import of food products in a more efficient and systematic manner.
“The import value of food items last year rose to more than RM45.4 billion and because of this, the government wants Felcra Berhad to become one of the major producers in the nation’s food security industry,” he said when officiating Felcra’s 50th Anniversary celebration at the Putra World Trade Centre, here yesterday.
In conjunction with its 50th anniversary, the Prime Minister wanted the agency to continue to move ahead by giving more attention to the programme to increase the settlers’ income.
He pointed out that one of the measures carried out was the setting up of a RM6 million fund for economic loans since 2009 for entrepreneurs wishing to expand their businesses.
The Prime Minister said to date, 1,100 entrepreneurs had benefitted from the revolving fund and among the sectors involved were the food industry, animal husbandry, aquaculture and construction.
Najib said Felcra Berhad had also agreed to provide additional funds of RM5 million for the revolving fund beginning next year to empower the bumiputera economy and raise the income of participants.
Najib, in his speech, also touched on the collaboration with Sime Darby Plantation Sdn Bhd in the estate sector, collaboration with the National Higher Education Fund Corporation ( PTPTN) and collaboration with the public institutions of higher learning in a project to plant the ‘ Harum Manis’ mango.
He said the collaboration with Sime Darby Plantation Sdn Bhd would begin next year involving in, among other things, the supply of agricultural inputs such as seedlings and young trees as well as the supply and hire-purchase of agricultural machinery. — Bernama