04 LOCAL NEWS @ AGROBiz | September-October. 2025
04 LOCAL NEWS @ AGROBiz | September-October. 2025
New era for Negeri Sembilan
NEGERI Sembilan is charting a new course to establish itself as a central agricultural export hub, with fruit production and grain corn identified as the backbone of the plan.
According to Senior State Executive Councillor Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, the move will not only enhance the local food supply but also create new income streams for farmers through exports.
“ Areas such as Londah, Gemas have been identified as highly suitable starting sites, with 40 hectares allocated for the development of grain corn seed production,” he said.
He explained that grain corn is being prioritised because of its importance to the livestock sector:“ Apart from padi fields, these areas are also very suitable for corn cultivation. We will expand this to all districts in stages according to the suitability of each location.
“ We will also establish zoning to encourage farming activities within the community.”
The state also aims to capitalise on Jelebu’ s reputation for durian, with nearly 10,000 hectares already under cultivation. Jalaluddin noted that global demand, especially from China, presents strong prospects.
“ During my visit to China last
year, I officiated at the opening of a‘ Jelebu Durian’ outlet in Guangzhou city. Although the fruits were frozen and took one to two weeks to arrive, their quality and taste remained intact.
“ There, a single durian can fetch between RM180 and RM200. This is an opportunity that must be seized,” he said.
Jalaluddin, who also chairs the State Agriculture, Food Security and Cost of Living Committee, emphasised the need for crop diversity to stabilise incomes.
“ We need to encourage the cultivation of other fruits so that
CROPS FOR TOMORROW: Jalaluddin Alias outlining Negeri Sembilan’ s long-term agricultural export strategy at FAMA Fest 2025.
farmers’ incomes are not dependent only on the durian season. This effort will be reinforced through strategic partnerships and the planning of cultivation zones based on local potential.”
By combining fruit exports with grain corn for livestock feed, Negeri Sembilan aims to establish a strong agricultural ecosystem that can compete in regional and international markets.
SEEDS OF OPPORTUNITY: Young agropreneurs pictured during FAMA Fest 2025.
Aid for pineapple growers
TWENTY agropreneurs from the asnaf and B40 communities have been selected to receive iTEKAD grants worth RM100,000 from Agrobank, aimed at supporting the cultivation of MD2 pineapples in Chuping, Perlis.
Agrobank President and Group Chief Executive Officer( CEO) Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah stated that the initiative was part of a broader partnership with Aqina Fruits Sdn Bhd( Aqina Fruits), which involves large-scale pineapple farming in several states.
“ This project is part of our collaboration with Aqina Fruits, which also includes pineapple plantation initiatives in other locations such as Beaufort and Pekoti. The Chuping and Beaufort projects each receive an allocation of RM6 million, while the Pekoti project gets the highest allocation of RM12 million.
“ Overall, the collaboration between Agrobank and Aqina Fruits through contract farming projects under the B40 model receives a total funding allocation of RM24 million,” he said.
The selected participants, who include military veterans, were each awarded RM5,000 to purchase equipment needed for farming on five-acre plots leased from Felda Global Ventures( FGV).
Tengku Ahmad added:“ As a development financial institution, Agrobank offers financing facilities of up to RM280,000 for each participant involved in this pineapple cultivation project to support their agricultural venture.”
The MD2 pineapple scheme, he explained, goes beyond individual income generation. It is designed to strengthen socio-economic resilience in rural areas while helping Malaysia increase its national
FINANCING THE FIELD: Agropreneurs receive aid for equipment and land development under iTEKAD.( Photo credit: Agrobank)
pineapple supply for both domestic demand and export markets.
Agrobank’ s iTEKAD initiative has also introduced various entrepreneurship support programmes, including Program Pembiayaan Usahawan Mikro MAINJ, Program Rakan Ladang BERNAS, Program
Skim Tanam Semula Kelapa Sawit and Program Pemodenan Vesel dan Mekanisasi Tangkapan.
All of them centre on three elements— seed capital, microfinancing and financial literacy— to empower lower-income communities.- @ AGROBiz