SERIAN: The state government will continue to introduce new and modern agricultural initiatives to farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen.
Such initiatives are aimed at increasing agricultural yields, reduce food imports and at the same time increase the income of farmers.
Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports and Balai Ringin assemblyman Datuk Snowdan Lawan said this at the launch of Agriculture Community Outreach Programme (AgriCOP) in Balai Ringin recently.
He urged rural landowners who have large tracts of lands to work with the Department of Agriculture in developing their lands.
Snowdan disclosed that agricultural assistance amounting to RM1 million were given out in the form of agricultural equipment, seeds and fertilisers to farmers statewide last year. The assistance was channeled through the respective district agriculture offices.
Various activities including briefings on the agriculture facilitation fund (AFF), freshwater fish farming management, pineapple crop management, oil palm, durian and swiftlet breeding technology were held for participants.
Earlier, the participants were briefed by officers from Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Veterinary and Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA) Samarahan, among others.
A total of 150 participants comprising community leaders and village chief from villages in Balai Ringin area attended the event.
At the function, Snowdan presented a RM20,000 grant to the Balai Ringin Fishermen Association.
