NINTH MALAYSIA PLAN 2006-2010 - EPU Report
Mid-Term Review of Ninth Malaysia Plan (RMKe-9) ... Malaysian Economy in Figures 2009 for: STRENGTHENING AGRICULTURE AND THE AGRO-BASED INDUSTRY (download report)
National Conference on New Crops and Bio-resources 2009
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) is hosting a National Conference on New Crops and Bio-Resources 2009 on 15t to 17th December 2009 at The Royale Bintang Resort & Spa Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
Objectives of the Conference is to:
• To create awareness in new or under-exploited crops and bio-resources with potential;
• To collate information on recent R&D developments on these crops/bio-resources; to identify and highlight opportunities for future industries; and
• To provide a common platform for R&D collaboration among research institutions and relevant agencies.
Keynotes:
Potential of Underutilised Crops for the Tropics by Dr. Hannah Jaenicke, Crops for the Future, Sri Lanka
Session 1: Potential of economic crops of Sabah and Sarawak
Session 2: New industrial crops (stevia, bio-fuel and essential oils)
Session 3: New horticultural crops (rare fruits, foriculture, landscapes and crops for antioxidants)
Session 4: Bio-resources 1 (potential products from algae/seaweeds, crops for animal feed and
underutilised fruits and ulam species)
Session 5: Bio-resources 2 (crops for pesticides and novel genes
You can visit MARDI web site or download the Conference Brochure.
Tissue Culture of Pisang Berangan (Dream Bananas)
Pisang Berangan seedlings are seen here growing in the bottle after 2 weeks from time of tissue culture. They are then transferred to the farm and put in to poly-bags.
Malaysian Budget 2010: RM6 Billion In 2010 Budget For Agriculture Sector
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.
