Shafie Apdal (left) meets with the winners of the Rural Business Challenge (RBC) 2014. — Bernama photo
PUTRAJAYA: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKLW) proposes to increase the allocation for the Rural Business Challenge (RBC) programme under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) to produce more young entrepreneurs in rural areas.
Its minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said over the past three years since the RBC was implemented in 2012, the programme has produced 53 entrepreneurs, with some achieving a monthly turnover of up to RM500,000.
“We want to create as many entrepreneurs as possible, but it depends on existing provisions. For this year RBC has been allocated RM20 million.
“So we will endeavour to increase the allocation as we are confident that it will succeed not only in increasing the income of entrepreneurs but also in providing job opportunities and developing the local area,” he told reporters after the signing event with RBC 2014 winners, here, yesterday.
At the event, five entrepreneurs were awarded grants worth between RM1.5 million and RM2 million each under the ‘RBC Cemerlang category’, and eight received RM750,000 grants each under the ‘RBC Jaya’ category and 10 more received RM300,000 grants each under the ‘RBC Harapan’ category.
Goat breeder, Lamjari Sarif Tawang, 37, from Kota Belud, Sabah, who was declared the main RBC 2014 winner received a business grant of RM2 million.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Geography) degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia.
His mother initially objected to him engaging in agriculture but now it has proved to be the right decision as he is able to earn RM15,000 a month.
“Before rearing goats I used to collect cow manure to be used as fertilizer.
“Later I went on to rear goats in 2005 with a capital of RM8,000 and then expanded to rear dairy cattle in 2011, then swiftlets in 2012 and in 2013 I started the ‘kelulut honey’ project,” he told reporters.
Lamjari said the RM2 million grant will be used to transform a five hectare field, close to where the proboscis monkeys are located, for a agro-tourism project with the community.
Another winner Khairul Azuan Abdul Razak, 33, from Hulu Selangor, said the RM1.5 million grant he received will be used to increase the production of rock melon in his field.
In addition, he has also created an aerated irrigation system to promote root growth, Air Hydro, which will be commercialised next year in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. — Bernama