Over RM3 million for agrofood sector, co-ops: Kuskop
Published on: Friday, February 24, 2023
By: Jonathan Nicholas
Kuskop Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick was responding to Muslimin Yahaya (Sungai Besar) in the Dewan Rakyat, Thursday.
Kota Kinabalu: The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (Kuskop) is injecting up to RM3 million in the agrofood sector as well as RM300,000 in development grant assistance to empower cooperatives’ involvement in chicken farming activities.Kuskop Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick was responding to Muslimin Yahaya (Sungai Besar) in the Dewan Rakyat, Thursday.
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Muslimin raised the issue of Ministry’s efforts in opening grain farms to accommodate the reduction in exports of chicken feed which could ultimately help control chicken prices.
“A total of 3,500 hectares of corn crop land has been identified by the Malaysian National Cooperative Movement (Angkasa) across the country.
“Land suitability testing is also being carried out by the Department of Agriculture in terms of land aspects, area and topography for mechanisation as well as local weather conditions.
“Currently, as many as 40ha owned by cooperatives and members in Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, have been found suitable for planting grain corn and Angkasa will provide preparatory guidance to the cooperatives involved for further action,” he said.
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Meanwhile, he said the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM) identified 21 cooperatives involved in chicken farming activities.
“From the number, Kuksop has held engagement sessions with 11 chicken farming cooperatives in January aimed at feedback from those involved in the sector and to discuss opportunities in developing it.
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“Kuskop is further detailing the strategy paper for the empowerment of poultry farming activities by the cooperative movement for presentation in the Livelihood Action Council Meeting (Naccol) as one of the Ministry’s efforts to empower the nation’s food supply security through cooperatives,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ewon said the National Business Group Economic Fund (Tekun) through the Micro and Informal Financing Scheme (SPIM) established in 2022 benefited a total of 1,934 entrepreneurs worth RM258 million.
The programme requires no profit rate offered at zero interest to entrepreneurs registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).
“Entrepreneurs who do business online but do not have business registration, can get financing assistance of up to RM5,000 and RM10,000 for those registered with SSM.
“Applicants only need to fill in the application form with relevant documents such as a copy of the identity card, a copy of the identity card of the husband or heir and a copy of the account book.
“Bank Rakyat has also allocated a total of RM50 million for the implementation of the Micro Financing Program for Small Hawkers and Traders which is also open to informal and micro entrepreneurs who do not have business permits or registration.
“Until Feb 9, 2023, a total of 2,066 financings were approved under the programme with a total value of RM46.427 million,” he said.
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