Sultan Nazrin holding a bunch of tomatoes grown at the Agroto Collection, Processing and Packaging Centre at KM19 Jalan Simpang Pulai, Cameron Highlands.
Initiatives boost halal food industry, agriculture and urban farming
THE Perak State Agriculture Development Corporation (Perak SADC) is committed to taking proactive steps to strengthen the food security of the state and to ensure sufficient food for the people.
This is in line with the decree by the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah to ensure the people do not go to bed hungry and also to ensure families have access to safe and healthy food.
Thus, under the leadership of its chief executive officer Datuk Yahanis Yahya, Perak SADC has started several initiatives and high impact projects, including the Perak Halal Industrial Park (HIP).
Perak HIP was designed to have a complete halal eco- system, which covers the food chain from top to bottom and to strengthen the halal food sector and to ensure food security for the long term.
The uniqueness and potential of Perak HIP is expected to attract both local and foreign investors to take part in this transformative project.
Among these foreign investments included getting into a partnership with Leiner Gelatine Sdn Bhd, a globally- known manufacturer of halal gelatine.
The partnership was an important step to diversify and improve the quality of halal products produced in Perak, while also creating new jobs for locals and also opening up the international market for high value products from Perak.
It also helped to increase the export of halal products to the global market, especially to other Islamic countries while enhancing Perak’s profile as an interesting investment destination in the halal industry.
Perak SADC has also heeded Sultan Nazrin’s call to double up efforts to improve food security through programmes and initiatives under its corporate social responsibility (CSR).
These included interest-free loans for entrepreneurs since 2019.
About RM1mil in scholarships were offered to 48 youth from various universities as part of Perak SADC’s CSR initiative to develop human capital and experts in the agricultural industry to strengthen the food security agenda.
The Perak SADC also took proactive steps to optimise land use for agricultural activities.
This effort involves tenants and lessees in the fields of cash crops, fruits, aquaculture and livestock.
There are a total of 372 entrepreneurs throughout the state involved, with the total area of crops of about 3,154ha.
Perak SADC also introduced the concept of urban farming for the people to earn some side income in July 2020.
The concept, which was inspired by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad’s remark to “grow what we eat and eat what we grow” and to sell the rest, has benefitted 189 communities and 81,050 households through community farming, rural farming and edu-farming.
