120,000 urban farmers nurtured since 2014 - Ronald Kiandee

Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said throughout the 11th Malaysia Plan between 2016 and last year, 93,937 people in 3,815 locations had been involved in urban farming programme, and out of the total, 8,010 people were from Melaka.

He said the government was confident that urban agriculture projects could help to lessen the cost of living of the people, provide job opportunities and generate extra income, aimed at helping Malaysians especially those affected by the Movement Control Order (MCO).

"Thus, the government has allocated provisions in the National Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) to make contributions of seeds, fertilisers, infrastructure, equipment, advisory service and others worth RM500 for each recipient and RM50,000 for every community.

"The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry had targeted a RM10 million allocation under PENJANA (for urban farming). The allocation will benefit 800 communities and 12,000 new participation from individuals for the urban farming programme," he said here today.

He said this in his speech after visiting the 'Kebuniti' urban farming project at the Tehel People's Housing Programme, Bemban here, which was also attended by his deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah.

Kiandee said the government introduced the urban farming programme to address the issue of land shortage for agriculture, besides enabling the people to venture into the agricultural sector using existing available spaces for food production and extra income generation.

"Such programmes can support the government's efforts in ensuring national food quality and security. The residents of Melaka can also cultivate and produce their own food for daily use as well as to reduce living costs.

"Besides that, (urban farming) can be a source of side income through the sale of excess crops. The government views seriously matters relating to food supply and the generation of extra income for the people in the country," he said.