Innovative showcase at agro expo

Farmers, breeders and fishermen learn how to use modern technology for better yields

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THOUSANDS thronged the five-day "Johor Food and Agro Exposition" held recently at the Kluang Modern Agriculture Project Complex.
There were numerous booths which drew the crowd as expo participants featured food and beverage products which were new in the market.


Aptly themed "Innovative Farming -- A Catalyst To Development", those who turned up at the event learned about modern technology and how it can help them bring in a lucrative yield.


The atmosphere at the exposition was akin to a carnival, as those who turned up were not only from the agriculture sector but also families who took the opportunity to enjoy an outing there.


The event was held for the second time in conjunction with the state-level Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen Day celebrations.


Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, who opened the event, said an allocation of RM1.5 million has been set aside for farmers involved with the integrated farming project in the state.


He said additional incentives amounting to RM500,000 has also been set aside for them.


"We want to ensure that Johor remains the main food producer in the country," Ghani said.


Johor has been contributing 46.8 per cent or RM1.3 billion annually to the country's main food for export commodity, compared with the country's export of RM2.8 billion.


As for greens, the production in Johor is 530,000 metric tonnes per year, while chicken egg production stood at three billion eggs worth RM1.6 billion in a year.


The state government is committed to helping farmers, breeders and fishermen and all those related to the agriculture and agro-based business.


"New technology will also boost the yields for this group of people who, in turn, help the State retain its position as the main food producer in the country," he said.


Also present were Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries committee chairman Datuk Abd Aziz Kaprawi and Fishermen's Association of Johor chairman, Mohamad Dolmat.


Ghani added that the Entrepreneur Development Programme (EDP), which has 2,066 members, has received aid worth RM7.1 million from the State Government, and this meant that the returns from their investments is more than RM50 million.


"We hope programmes like the EDP can motivate farmers, breeders and fishermen to be innovative and embrace the latest technology in their business," he said.




Read more: Innovative showcase at agro expo - Niexter - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/channels/niexter/innovative-showcase-at-agro-expo-1.13194#ixzz1guGu5nqj


By CHUAH BEE KIM
JOHOR BARU
johor@nst.com.my