Agriculture field is one of the national income main source, and for Terengganu it doesn’t only limit to paddy farming. Relentless efforts by the state changed the mindset of Terengganu people on tapping other potential areas such as maize and Melon Manis. The state has launched a strategic framework plan on making agriculture as a lucrative business.
“Agriculture will no longer be associated with poverty”
Recently, the state government launched the Terengganu Agricultural Strategic Plan 2019-2023 to ensure that agriculture will no longer be associated with poverty, but in fact, viewed as a lucrative business. According to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, the state is planning to utilise some 12,000 hectares of agricultural land in the state for its untapped potential. This is among the things emphasised under the Terengganu Agricultural Strategic Plan that aims to achieve the target in 5 years plan.
Terengganu has over 251,000 hectares of land suitable for agriculture, it just need a push from the state on leveraging the use of it. This can be obtained through the participation of local farmers which will be able to help them live a comfortable life.
The plan underlines six strategic thrusts comprising 61 strategies to be implemented through 128 programmes to support the state’s mission transforming the agriculture sector and making agriculture a business.
The state allocates RM500,000 to develop corn valley in Marang
In other news, Terengganu government has allocated RM500,000 for the development of the Corn Valley under Alor Ketitir Special Agricultural Project (PKAK) in Marang. According to the state agriculture, agro-based industry and rural development committee chairman, Dr. Azman Ibrahim the allocation will focus on infrastructure especially irrigation needs that is expected to aid the project thus increasing production.
60 out of 80 PKAK participants have harvested 80 hectares of maize as in March 2019. Besides maize, PKAK also produces watermelon, pumpkin, cucumber as well as pepper. In 2018 alone, corn production from PKAK which is among the best in Malaysia was 1,200 metric tonnes with a value of RM1.2 million.
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