KIULU: Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar has called for the eligibility criteria of the Budi Diesel Programme to be reviewed so more young entrepreneurs in the agriculture, livestock and food industries can benefit from the Government's diesel subsidy.
He said many young agricultural operators were unable to qualify because the vehicles used for farming activities were not registered in their names, as many in rural areas acquired them through hire purchase arrangements or company financing rather than conventional bank loans.
Jamawi said he would raise the matter with the Federal Finance Ministry and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, while engaging State and Federal agricultural agencies to convey feedback from Sabah entrepreneurs and discuss possible improvements to the scheme.
In a separate development, he said the ministry was studying a proposal to introduce the Kitchen Garden concept in schools to promote food security awareness among pupils, adding that the initiative had received positive feedback from schools and Parent-Teacher Associations and would be implemented in stages subject to available funding.
Jamawi also said more than 3,000 small-scale growers had established "kitchen gardens" around their homes during the first six months of the year, with the programme to be expanded statewide as a platform to promote agricultural assistance and incentives, while a Best Kitchen Garden Award is being considered in conjunction with the Sabah State Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen's Day celebration in Tenom this September.
