TRANSFORMING THE EAST COAST ECER - Driving Development ...

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PAGE 20 August 4, 2009 UPLIFTING LIVES THROUGH THE AGROPOLITAN PROJECT The 9th Malaysia Plan (2006-2010) has committed to achieve growth with distribution and set targets of reducing the overall poverty rate to 2.8 per cent to eradicate hardcore poverty by 2010. It has also set targets to narrow income disparities and improve equity amongst the rural population of ECER. As it is, there are over 22,076 families considered to be below the poverty line in the ECER. Of this, approximately 8,670 are considered to be hardcore poor, earning less than RM100 per capita per month. The ECER’s main aim is to achieve zero hardcore poor by 2010. Based primarily on the objectives of total poverty eradication, the Agropolitan Project is helping the hardcore poor build self-reliance by taking ownership of their economic progress through commercial and agricultural activities. 4 Agropolitan Projects have been initiated - North Kelantan (2,000 participants), South Kelantan (3,000 participants), Besut-Setiu in Terengganu (3,000 participants) and Pekan (1,450 participants) in Pahang - covering the cultivation of crops and livestock rearing as primary and secondary economic activities. To ensure smooth implementation, 2 lead implementing agencies have been appointed. For the South Kelantan Agropolitan Project, KESEDAR is the lead implementing agency while FELDA manages the Pekan Agropolitan Project. A unique feature of ECER’s Agropolitan Project is the allocation of a house for each of the hardcore poor families, as well as the establishment of primary, tertiary and support activities for the participating families. Another key characteristic is that income will not solely be earned by the respective heads of the household but also by each member of the family, through gains from secondary and support activities. The establishment of Collection, Processing and Packaging Centres (CPPCs) and Collection and Marketing Centres (CMCs), including training and auction centres as well as abattoirs and meat processing centres, ensure that the participants are well facilitated to earn more from any inter-related support activities. In addition, human capital development via training and education will prepare participants with the right attitude and necessary knowledge and skills to adopt new technologies and good agriculture practices. It will facilitate entrepreneurship qualities among participants to benefit from various business opportunities. The East Coast Economic Region The South Kelantan Agropolitan Project has recorded remarkable progress with the implementation of the housing units, complete with primary and secondary economic activities for the participants. Participants of the South Kelantan Agropolitan Project on their first day of relocation to their new homes. One of the engagement sessions organised by ECERDC and UMK for the participants of the South Kelantan Agropolitan Project.
August 4, 2009 A NEW LIFE IN MUKIM BEBAR, PEKAN The first batch of Dorper sheep arrived in Runchang, Mukim Bebar in Pekan on 23 July 2009. The Pekan Agropolitan Project is a new economic model that enhances the economic value chain through deployment of an integrated approach, allowing the participants to tap into other non-agriculture based activities to supplement their income. Involving a total of 1,450 families, the Pekan Agropolitan Project employs a comprehensive regional development approach where 700 hardcore poor families are resettled within new areas in Tanjung Batu, Bebar and Kubang Panjang in Lepar while the remaining 750 Orang Asli families are involved via the In Situ approach. Oil palm plantations and sheep rearing have been identified as the primary activities in the Pekan Agropolitan Project while secondary activities such as downstream initiatives related to oil palm and sheep rearing activities, as well as bird’s nest cultivation, sewing, aquaculture, aquaphonic and mushroom growing are also available. The Pekan Agropolitan Project is estimated to create 5,000 new jobs and elevate the monthly household income of hardcore poor from RM360 to RM1,500 per month. Here, FELDA as the main implementing agency will manage the participants, the projects and related activities as well as managing the financial aspects of the projects. Meanwhile, ECERDC will act as the Project’s overall facilitator and coordinator, ensuring that each of the Project’s milestones is completed as planned. A monitoring system was also developed specifically for this Project to enable participants to gain easy access to the sheep rearing programme’s operational requirements at any given point of time. Called the Pekan Dorper Total Management System, it provides vital information about the sheep at a fly - including weight, breed history, disease history, even the sheep’s next feeding times. The East Coast Economic Region Motivational programme for the participants of Pekan Agropolitan Project was attended by UPEN Pahang, JHEOA, Pekan District Office and ECERDC. An aerial view of the four completed Animal Production Units (APU) in RPS Runchang, Mukim Bebar. The Batu 8, Mukim Lepar housing project marking a key milestone for the Pekan Agropolitan Project. PAGE 21
Page 1 and 2: TRANSFORMING THE EAST COAST A COMME
Page 3 and 4: August 4, 2009 ECER : DRIVING DEVEL
Page 5 and 6: August 4, 2009 ECER STRATEGIC INITI
Page 7 and 8: August 4, 2009 TRANSFORMATION BASED
Page 9 and 10: August 4, 2009 Manufacturing The EC
Page 11 and 12: August 4, 2009 ECER MAKING PROGRESS
Page 13 and 14: August 4, 2009 Economic Zone INTERN
Page 15 and 16: August 4, 2009 Gambang Halal Park W
Page 17 and 18: August 4, 2009 ECER Special Economi
Page 19: August 4, 2009 SME Development Prog
Page 23 and 24: August 4, 2009 ECER - REACHING OUT

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