A summary of what is installed for next year. I somehow hope this budget reaches struggling farmers like us.
Agriculture Sector
· Modernise the aquaculture industry and implement entrepreneurship training scheme for aquaculture breeders which is expected to benefit 1,150 participants.
· Develop food farming industry such as fruits, vegetables, organic farming.
· Develop basic infrastructure for livestock farms, and establish supply chains for production of beef and mutton.
· Implement incubation programmes for agro entrepreneurs under the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Agrobank and Regional Economic Corridors.
· Establish a consortium between FELCRA, FELDA and RISDA with a paid-up capital of RM300 million to implement various high impact projects in downstream and upstream industries.
· Provide RM2 billion subsidies, incentives and assistance to safeguard farmers and fishermen.
· Provide RM1.09 billion incentives and subsidies for paddy farmers including price subsidies (RM400 million) and fertilizer subsidy (RM300 million) and other incentives (RM390 million).
Financing
· Provide soft loans amounting to RM1.5 billion for companies that supply and utilise green technology under the National Green Technology Centre, with effect from 1 Jan 2010, which will benefit 140 companies.
· Provide additional allocation of RM200 million under the TEKUN Scheme (including RM20 million for Indian SMEs).
· Establish a micro insurance and takaful coverage for small businesses with a minimum premium of RM20 per month for coverage ranging from RM10,000 to RM20,000.
· Approval for micro financing schemes by financial institutions will be improved to an average of 6 days and disbursement of funds to an average of 4 days.
· Expand Ar-Rahnu Scheme currently offered by Bank Rakyat to Bank Muamalat and Bank Islam.
· Provide RM200 million of soft loans under SME Corporation Malaysia.