New opportunity for Felda settlers to boost income via MoU

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6  (Bernama) -- The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlers will have the opportunity to venture into new crops and livestock through the collaboration initiative between several Felda subsidiaries and local as well as foreign companies.

Felda director-general Datuk Dr Othman Omar said this followed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Felda and the companies concerned in conjunction with the national-level Felda Settlers’ Day celebrations to be held tomorrow at Felda Selancar 3 in Rompin.

“This will provide an opportunity for traders to venture into new areas including entrepreneurship that will increase their income instead of just depending on palm oil.

“We hope the settlers especially the younger generation will see more opportunities, that there are many other cash crops and livestock that can be grown or cultivated through the MoU,” he said when interviewed on the Ruang Bicara programme produced by Bernama News Channel (BNC) at Wisma Bernama here last night.

Othman said the MoU will be signed between Felda Encorp Berhad, which is owned by Felda Investment Corp (FIC) and PureCircle Ltd, the world’s leading producer and innovator of stevia sweeteners for the food and beverage industry. 

 “PureCircle company will assist Felda settlers to plant stevia while Encorp will collaborate with a Switzerland-based company for insect technology as it was tipped that bug protein will be one of the major food in the future,” he added.

On the Felda Settlers’ Day celebration, Othman said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will launch the new business model for the Felda, aimed to give settlers the opportunities for higher and more consistent earnings under the new model.

Dr.Mahathir was also scheduled to announce the winner of the Felda village excellence award for 2018, which offered a cash prize of RM1 million, he said.

 -- BERNAMA