SejaTi MADANI: One-foot papaya project boosts Kampung Kuak Hulu's economy
Kampung Kuak Hulu SejaTi MADANI project chairman, Mohd Zaidi Bakri, said the initiative, undertaken by the Kampung Kuak Hulu Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK), aims to help local residents generate income through modern and sustainable agricultural practices.
'Since its implementation in early July last year, the programme has benefited 10 participants. Moreover, it has established an integrated development model that connects the local community with an educational institution,' he added.
'The project also supports the sustainability of the village economy by harnessing its true potential, while empowering the community through training, active participation, and shared responsibility,' he said in a statement issued by Kolej Komuniti Gerik today.
Mohd Zaidi added that each participant is expected to earn a net return of between RM2,000 and RM2,500 once the crops bear fruit, depending on market prices.
Meanwhile, Kampung Kuak Hulu JPKK chairman, Mohd Nazri Md Midah, in the same statement, said that, to prevent fruit oversupply, the JPKK, in collaboration with Kolej Komuniti Gerik, had organised a course on processing papaya into chilli sauce and fruit jam.
He noted that the SejaTi MADANI Project, an initiative inspired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is expected to be expanded to other areas, with a specific focus on local food production, thereby contributing to the national food security chain.
'The MADANI sustainability project involving one-foot papaya planting is one of JPKK's initiatives to encourage youth participation in the agricultural sector,' he added.
Meanwhile, the college said that the community fund is part of the government's effort to promote inclusive community development by harnessing local potential. The villages involved are positioned as key drivers of development through the implementation of high-impact projects aligned with the values of Malaysia MADANI.
SejaTi MADANI is a government initiative under the MADANI framework, aimed at stimulating economic activity at the community level and increasing household income by providing allocations of up to RM100,000 to eligible communities.
The initiative complements the broader MADANI Economy Framework, which prioritises the well-being of the people by raising the income floor and strengthening the community-based economy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysian Reserve
44 minutes ago
- Malaysian Reserve
BIMB Securities: Malaysia's 2Q GDP likely below 4.5% estimate
MALAYSIA'S economic growth in the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25) is expected to come in slightly below the Department of Statistics Malaysia's (DOSM) advance estimate of 4.5%, at around 4.3%, according to BIMB Securities Research. In its gross domestic product (GDP) preview, BIMB said the moderation reflects softer private consumption and slower export growth amid persistent global headwinds. Retail sales growth eased to 5% year-on-year – the weakest in six quarters – while export growth slowed to 3.5% from 4.4% in the previous quarter. Manufacturing output growth softened to 3.9% from 4.2%, with the sector's PMI staying below the 50-point mark at 48.9 in 2Q. Exports to China contracted by 4.4%, while growth to the US decelerated to 20.2% from 36.4% in 1Q. BIMB said investment momentum remained solid but is likely to moderate given global uncertainties, including potential US tariffs of up to 100% on semiconductor imports and varying levies on other major economies. Despite external risks, domestic demand is expected to provide some buffer, supported by government measures such as a one-off RM100 cash transfer to all Malaysian adults at end-August and the 25-basis-point cut in the overnight policy rate in July. 'While external uncertainties may weigh on the export-oriented sectors, domestic policy measures are expected to help sustain Malaysia's near-term growth momentum,' the research house said. — TMR
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
‘Johor farmers have to pay more for foreign help'
VEGETABLE farmers in Johor are left without much choice but to pay foreign workers above Malaysia's minimum wage scale of RM1,700 a month. Federation of Vegetable Farmers Association president Lim Ser Kwee said foreign workers were only willing to work at farms if they were paid more. 'We have to pay them not less than RM2,000 or else we would have no helpers at our farms,'' he said when contacted. 'If a farmer chooses not to pay above the RM1,700 minimum wage rate, others might pay more to hire these workers,' he added. Lim said that despite farmers' willingness to exceed the minimum wage, locals did not want to do such work. 'Toiling under the sun at vegetable farms is not for locals.' The Federal Government announced an increase in the minimum wage from RM1,500 to RM1,700 effective Feb 1, 2025. This applies to all private sector employees including non-citizens, except for domestic workers and those under apprenticeship contracts. However, for smaller businesses with fewer than five employees, the new rate takes effect beginning this month. Lim said Malaysia's traditional vegetable farming relied heavily on manual labour, particularly for harvesting and sorting. He said some small-scale farmers in Johor had ceased operations due to difficulties in hiring workers, leaving their farms idle. 'We are smallholders. Inves-ting in farming technologies and automation requires big capital,' Lim said. He also cautioned consumers against buying vegetables from unlicensed farmers who were not registered with the Agriculture Department. Lim said vegetables grown by registered farmers were regularly monitored by the department to ensure compliance with chemical usage limits, including for fertilisers and pesticides. 'This is to ensure the vegetables are safe to consume and follow the Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices Scheme (MyGap).' Lim said the department's certification scheme was aimed at recognising farms that follow sustainable and responsible agricultural practices.
Borneo Post
6 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Businessman, businesswoman nabbed over RM3.6 million false claims
KOTA KINABALU (Aug 12): A businessman and a businesswoman have been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for allegedly submitting false claims involving over RM3.6 million under the Small and Medium Industry (SME) Assistance Programme. Sources said both suspects, in their 50s, were detained around 11am on Tuesday when they appeared at the Sabah MACC office to give their statements. Initial investigations revealed that in 2022 and 2023, the duo allegedly submitted two false claims to the Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR) — one for the supply of retort machines and entrepreneur equipment worth over RM400,000, and another for MeSTI, My Food and Halal certification services worth over RM3.2 million. Sabah MACC director Datuk S. Karunanithy confirmed the arrests, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 18 and Section 28(1)(c) of the MACC Act 2009. Both suspects were released after paying a RM1,000 deposit each from the RM10,000 bail imposed, and are expected to be charged at the Kota Kinabalu Special Sessions Court for Corruption on Thursday.
