PUTRAJAYA: The People’s Income Initiative-Agricultural Entrepreneurship (IPR-Intan) programme under the Economy Ministry has generated cumulative revenue of about RM22mil since its introduction in 2023, says Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (pic).
"One of the (IPR programme) segments is Intan, which focuses on agriculture, and so far it has produced about 2,300 participants," the Economy Minister told reporters after visiting the IPR-Intan project site on Friday (April 17).
The programme includes the cultivation of crops such as chillies and cucumbers and not only enables the target group to earn additional income, but also supports the government’s efforts to ensure the country’s basic food supply remains stable.
Akmal Nasrullah said the chilli cultivation project using fertigation (the direct application of water-soluble fertilisers to plants' root zones) on 4.04ha has benefited 20 participants, each earning an average monthly income of about RM3,000.
"The project, now in its fifth round, has produced over 200 tonnes of chillies worth approximately RM1.5mil, allowing working capital to be sourced from the proceeds.
"The programme demonstrates that assisting the target group is also included in our agenda to raise the people’s income, as well as to eradicate poverty," he said.
Akmal Nasrullah said that this year, the ministry has agreed to implement 20 new IPR-Intan projects, benefiting 600 participants from the B40 group, as well as the poor and hardcore poor.
He said this includes the expansion of the programme's Putrajaya project, which will see an additional 20 participants, bringing the total to 40.
IPR-Intan Putrajaya is carried out on land belonging to the Putrajaya Corporation, and managed by the Farmers’ Organisation Authority in collaboration with the Kuala Langat Area Farmers’ Organisation. – Bernama
