Johor’s Food Security Programme kicks off

JOHOR BARU: A Food Security Programme aimed at positioning Johor as the nation’s main food production hub has kicked off with the state’s agriculture department getting Rm16.66mil from the Finance Ministry.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said that with the allocation, the department would coordinate six programmes involving 1,583 recipients comprising leading companies and entrepreneurs, from the beginning of the year until 2022, to ensure adequate food supply.

From the amount allocated, some Rm2mil would be channelled into a collaborative programme between leading companies and farmers as well as the agro-based industry (IAT).

“This programme is a collaboration between leading companies, which act as industry players, and IAT to deal with the buying and selling of crops, and subsequently, to establish contract farming agreements.

“An understanding will be drawn up with leading companies and entrepreneurs that would help achieve relevant market pricing beneficial to both parties based on the advice of the state agriculture department,” he said in a statement yesterday.

The said companies would be responsible for seeking both export and local markets, while entrepreneurs would be responsible for ensuring that products meet the required quantity and quality standards, and were safe to consume, said Hasni.

Under the programme, each leading company will receive a maximum incentive of RM50,000 while each entrepreneur, a maximum incentive of RM20,000. This will be given in the form of equipment, machinery, fixtures or infrastructure.

The programme is aimed at improving productivity with the construction of a farm produce collection centre to ensure that the marketing process runs smoothly.