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NABAWAN: The Farmers’ Association Board (LPP) helped 33 members from the Malima Farmers’ Unit of the Nabawan Area Farmers’ Association (PPK) with machinery amounting to RM90,740 through the Small and Medium Machinery Ownership Programme with Matching Grants.

The handover ceremony was completed by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup at the Malima PPK Nabawan Fertilizer Store Office.

Arthur said that through this initiative, LPP offers donations for the purchase of machinery with a ratio of 70:30, that is 70 per cent of the value of the machinery or equipment will be contributed by the LPP while the other 30 per cent is the contribution of applicants with the purchase of machinery or equipment of up to RM20,000.

“Accordingly, due to the concern of the Government, the recipients of the machines only need to pay a cost of RM27,199 while RM63,541 of the value of the machinery will be financed by the LPP under this small and medium machinery ownership programme,” he said.

Meanwhile, he called on PPK members involved in agriculture to take the opportunity and apply at the office of the farmers’ organization according to their respective fields of business. 

In general, among the machines that can be applied for are mini harvesters, tractors, ploughers and other suitable agricultural equipment.

The government sets simple conditions to ensure that farmers can own machinery, among which is that they are PPK members, aged 18 years and above and involved in or carrying out agricultural activities involving agro-food production. 

At the same ceremony, Arthur also handed over the agriprentice grant to a total of 5 recipients with an allocation of RM100,000 for the implementation of the Hydroponic farming project which will be guided by local agricultural entrepreneur Amran Jining.

He hopes that with the ease of owning machinery and modern farming methods such as hydroponic farming, it will be able to attract more young people to participate in stimulating the agro-food sector. 

Also present were Director General of LPP, Amir Matamin, Director of LPP Sabah, Hadriyani Ahmad and Member of the Board of Directors of the Nabawan Area Farmers’ Association Ardin Lakunsim.