MARDI Allocates RM364,000 For Ayam Saga Project In Jasin

JASIN, April 12 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) has allocated RM364,200 to implement the Ayam Saga Farming Project in two villages here to improve the residents’ socio-economic status through the transfer of agricultural and livestock technologies.

MARDI director-general Datuk Dr Mohamad Zabawi Abdul Ghani said the project, carried out under the MARDI Adopted Village programme, reflects the agency’s commitment to ensuring that technologies developed are directly utilised by the community.

“The Ayam Saga Farming Project, as a source of meat for communities in this district, is an important initiative to ensure that technologies developed do not remain confined to laboratories or research farms, but instead reach the people and make a tangible impact on their daily lives.

“I hope the implementation of the MARDI Adopted Village programme in Kampung Chinchin Hulu and Kampung Chinchin will benefit the local community through the sharing of knowledge, technology and expertise developed by researchers,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters at the launch of the MARDI Adopted Village programme and Ayam Saga Farming Project, officiated by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security’s political secretary, Yuhaizad Abdullah, at the Kampung Chinchin Hulu community hall here today.

The event also saw the handover of ‘touch point’ contributions to 20 residents of Kampung Chinchin Hulu and Kampung Chinchin, and the symbolic handover of Greenkit technology, an innovative self-watering pot developed by MARDI using a capillary irrigation concept to facilitate sustainable and efficient cultivation of vegetables and herbs.

Elaborating further, Mohamad Zabawi said one of the programme’s key components is the Ayam Saga Farming Course involving 20 selected participants, each receiving assistance worth RM18,210.

He said the assistance includes the provision of coop, 100 Ayam Saga chicks, feed, equipment, vaccines and disinfectants. MARDI has also allocated RM30,000 for training and monitoring to ensure the project’s success.

He added that the course also introduces a premium ayam kampung (free-range chicken) breed developed by MARDI, suitable for small-scale farming as a source of meat and eggs, with the potential to generate additional household income.

In addition, MARDI has also allocated about RM30,000 to upgrade surau facilities in the two villages under the Adopted Village programme.

-- BERNAMA