Story by Danny Ooi
Pix by Mohd Adil Muhammad
THE Penang State Government has allocated RM250,000 annually towards the Young Agriculture Entrepreneurs Fund to encourage the young
and those below 40 years old to adopt the agro-based industry as a career to earn a lucrative income.
“For the initial allocation before this, they are 24 recipients from various categories of agriculture, aqua culture and fisheries.
“However, for the 2nd cheques presentation on April 6, there are only nine recipients comprising five from agriculture and four from aqua culture
sectors respectively,” exco for Agriculture , Agro-Based Industries, Rural Development and Health, Dr Afif Bahardin said during the ceremony held
in Komtar.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, handed over the cheques to the recipients.
Meanwhile, a recipient Idris Abu Bakar, 31, from Permatang Damar Laut near Bayan Lepas was overjoyed with the RM5,000 he received.
“This is the first time, I received financial aid. I will be using this fund to buy moregoats for my farm,” he told Buletin Mutiara.
Echoing Idris sentiment is another goat and cow breeder from mainland Nibong Tebal, Satya Raj Chandrasekeran, 27.
“I will be using the fund extended to us, to increase my herd of 30 goats and 10 cows and also to improve infrastructure for my six-acre farm,
situated in an oil palm plantation,” he said.
He added that he is happy and thankful to the State Government for having this financial scheme to assist entrepreneurs like himself.
Cake manufacturer, Julia Che Ros, 32, from mainland Kepala Batas, said the funding will help her expand her bakery business.
“I now supply 800 cakes weekly to schools, sundry shops and colleges. I hope to increase output to 1,000,” she said.
She commented that the micro credit loan of RM5,000 will also be use as running capital for her bakery.
The Penang state government launched the micro-credit loan scheme called “Young Agriculture Entrepreneurs Fund” (TUTM) in conjunction
with the opening of Penang Agro Fest 2014 at Seberang Jaya expo site in June 2014.
The aim of the fund is to give the maximum of RM5,000 to young entrepreneurs in agriculture, aqua culture and fisheries.
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