KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM33mil has been approved under the 13th Malaysia Plan to implement high-impact agricultural projects from 2026 to 2030, says Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin.
He said the federal government has allocated RM24.98mil to upgrade existing Permanent Food Production Parks (TKPMs) and RM18.47mil to develop new parks under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
The upgrades to existing TKPMs have been rolled out nationwide, except in Perlis, while new development projects are underway in Johor, Kelantan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Terengganu and Perlis, he added.
"In addition, to ensure the continuity of these high-impact agricultural projects, the Food Crop Production Zone Empowerment Project has been approved under the 13th Malaysia Plan, with an allocation of RM33mil for nationwide implementation from 2026 to 2030," he said in reply to a question from Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (PN-Rantau Panjang) during Question Time on Monday (Feb 9).
Siti Zailah had asked the ministry to state the high-impact agricultural projects that have been and are currently being implemented nationwide, including their scope, locations and respective allocations, as well as the government’s efforts under the National Food Security Programme.
Chan said the government has implemented another initiative, the Jeniang Water Transfer Scheme Project in Kedah, which was approved under the 12th Malaysia Plan with an estimated cost of RM1.34bil.
"Upon completion, it will enhance water management capacity and efficiency in Kedah, particularly for the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) area and surrounding regions," he said.
"The project will increase water resources for paddy cultivation, with water from Sungai Muda channelled and stored at Naok Dam to ensure a more sufficient, stable and continuous supply to support agricultural activities and related needs in the area," he added.
Aside from that, the government introduced the Aquaculture Industrial Zone (ZIA) Development initiative, aimed at transforming the aquaculture sector into a large-scale, sustainable and competitive commercial industry.
"Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, a total of RM18mil has been allocated for the development of high-potential ZIAs covering fish, shrimp and shellfish farming," he said.
According to the deputy minister, 54 ZIA locations have been identified nationwide to date, covering both marine and freshwater aquaculture.
"About 12,730ha are actively cultivated, producing 9,044.46 metric tonnes valued at RM684mil in 2024," he said.
Another project is the Pengganda30 Programme, aimed at driving the national ruminant industry under the 13th Malaysia Plan and achieving a 50% self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) by 2030, Chan added.
"The ministry is implementing the high-impact Pengganda30 Programme with a project cost of RM450mil nationwide," he said.
"The programme is designed as an integrated intervention to increase the population of meat ruminants (cattle and goats) in the country, delivering large-scale impact within a short period," he said.
