YBM providing opportunities for people to improve their lot

Its chairman, Datuk Zainal Abidin Sakom said the initiative under the 'Basmi Kemiskinan Bina Kesejahteraan' (Eradicating Poverty, Building Prosperity) banner, provided opportunities for people to acquire training in agriculture such as growing chillies, pineapple and sweet potatoes, and breeding chickens.

“The project started two months ago with two participants growing chillies using the fertigation method with the first harvest on this March 25.

"We are now looking for 20 participants to continue with this chilli-growing project in Hulu Selangor. They are required to stay at a place for a certain duration for training before a certificate is issued to them when we are confident that they can undertake the chilli cultivation themselves.

"We are also ready to provide advice and technical assistance to them for free,” he said after handing out ‘kotak rezeki’ (sustenance boxes) to 200 people comprising single mothers and the needy in the Petalng Jaya district at Taman Medan Cahaya, near here, yesterday.

Zainal Abidin said the search for 20 people comprising single mothers, youths and the needy who were keen to get out of poverty and build a better life for themselves was on.

He said YBM had discussed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to provide capital for the individuals to carry out suitable crop cultivation.

He added that those interested could go to the YBM website for more information.

On the ‘kotak rezeki’, he said 26,000 people across the country had benefited from it since the programme was launched in March last year.

In conjunction with the coming fasting month, YBM targets to provide basic necessities and cash to 1,000 needy families through the Sinar Kasih Ramadan programme.