RM300 one-off aid for all in agri and food industry
Published on: Monday, April 06, 2020
File photo from Bernama.
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government is extending a hand to all who are contributing to the food supply chain, said Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Junz Wong.He said the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (Mafi) will channel a one-off RM300 cash aid to all rubber tappers, farmers, fruit planters, fishermen and breeders.ADVERTISEMENT
“The Sabah Government will help all who are contributing to the food supply chain regardless of whether they are under B40 or M40.
“For those who have already registered under my Ministry, we have your details but we need your bank account. So, please come forward to submit your bank account to the respective district agencies according to your sector.
“For example, if you are a rubber tapper in Tenom, you go to LIGS Tenom office. If you are a fisherman in Kudat, you go to Kudat Fishery Department office. If you are a fruit planter in Kota Marudu, you go to the Pertanian Office in Kota Marudu.
“I will also try to help those not registered under any Mafi agencies. Please also come forward because we need to identify you. We need your details so that my Ministry can help you.”ADVERTISEMENT
To be fair, Junz said, every applicant would only be helped once.
“If you rear chickens (breeder) and plant chilli (farmer) at the same time, you will only receive RM300 instead of RM600.”
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Junz, who is also Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) Vice President, said a holistic plan to resolve problems faced by agropreneurs during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period is also underway.
“Apart from short-term relief, a holistic plan to resolve problems faced by local players contributing to the food chain is to be finalised soon.
“The holistic plan will tackle issues involving local produces, marketing, logistics, transportation and sales, which will also address issues pertaining to food chain-related industries such as fertilisers, seedlings, animal feed and fish mills,” he said.
He assured all that his Ministry will do its level best to ensure farmers and fishermen survive this crisis, in order to sustain the continuity of food supply in Sabah.
He also urged Sabah agro players to apply for any available assistance in the meantime.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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“There are also schemes and assistance decided in my first national Exco meeting with federal Agriculture Minister Datuk Dr Ronald Kiandee on March 31.
“You can apply for aid programmes like the RM4.5 billion micro credit loan, the RM1,600 one-off Bantuan Prihatin Nasional, the up to RM2,000 employee-wage subsidy from Perkeso, the 15pc-50pc electricity rebate (aquaculture & close door breeders) and the programmes funded through Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia and Lembaga Pertubuhan Peladang.”