SHAH ALAM, June 5 — Cash aid under the Selangor Resilience Enhancement Package has brought relief to farmers, fishermen, livestock breeders and aquaculture operators facing rising costs due to current economic uncertainties.
Under the initiative, recipients get RM2,700 per month for six months to help them with operational costs and ensure food production continuity.
PakDin Nanas owner Rosdin Napiah, 58, said the aid would greatly help him with business needs including farming input and plantation operation costs.
“Thank God, I was chosen to receive aid from the state government. Even though this aid is for six months, it helps a lot as support to add what is needed to make sure farm operations go smoothly.
“The main challenge in this sector … is capital, but the state government’s aid gives space for me to make my business more (resilient),” he told Media Selangor.
Rosdin, better known as PakDin, has run his pineapple plantation in Sabak Bernam for seven years and has around 80,000 pineapple plants of various grades.
Meanwhile, Mohd Hafiz Nordin, 42, aquaculture operator from Bestari Jaya, said his business requires high commitments as it involves live animals that need meticulous care.
However, he believes the aquaculture sector has a bright future and could attract the participation of more youth.
“Thank you, state government, for choosing me as one of the recipients. The RM2,700 cash aid for six months would help me a lot with my aquaculture business’ operation costs.
“I recommend that youth… younger people out there try their hand in aquaculture or agriculture because this sector has great potential if you work diligently and patiently,” said Nordin, who has been in the aquaculture sector for nearly 20 years.
Kaffir lime farm operator Nor Alwani Ahmad Hadi, 34, meanwhile said the aid gave her a boost to continue the business she inherited from her late father almost 20 years ago.
“Thank you to the Selangor government for this aid. I hope more initiatives like this can be continued and expanded to operators like us… seeing as the agriculture sector is part of the food supply chain that is so important to the country,” said Alwani, who runs a 1.6ha kaffir lime plantation in Sungai Air Tawar.
Yesterday, state executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Dato’ Izham Hashim presented contributions under the Selangor Resilience Enhancement Package to farmers, fishermen, livestock breeders and aquaculture operators during a ceremony at Dewan Seri Benam Sungai Besar in Sabak Bernam.
The first-of-its-kind initiative under the RM131 million Selangor Economic Stimulus Package is set to benefit agrofood industry players statewide with various forms of aid.
Izham said the aid is aimed at helping industry players manage rising operation costs, ensure food production continuity, and boost Selangor’s food security.
