Najib Launches Rm40mil Fish Protech Project

najib launches rm40mil fish protech project by simon khoo pekan: the rm40mil fish protech project at four locations will help increase fisheries products, agriculture and agro-based industries minister datuk mustapa mohamed said. mustapa said malaysia hoped to produce 660,000 tonnes of fisheries products by 2010. “presently, we are producing about 25% of this, or 170,000 tonnes. with the project, we are confident of increasing production, particularly in aquaculture. generous gift: najib receiving the cheque from national fisherman’s association chairman mohamad dolmat (right) for the national disaster fund after the project’s launch in pekan recently while mustapa (second from left) and adnan (left) look on. “the government’s aspiration to eradicate hardcore poverty among fishermen will be achieved,” he said during the project's launch in kuala pahang by deputy prime minister datuk seri najib tun razak recently. also present were mentri besar datuk seri adnan yaakob, state assembly speaker datuk wan mohd razali wan mahussin, state secretary datuk muhammad safian ismail and other dignitaries. najib also received a cheque for rm200,000 from the national fisherman’s association to help fishermen in flood-hit area. kuala pahang will be the site for the project to start on a big scale after the pilot project in kampung bagan lalang, sepang, succeeded in producing good yields. the three other locations are earmarked in johor, kedah and kelantan. mustapa said the malaysian fisheries development board (lkim) had secured an agreement to use the technology from australia with local modifications. “the first batch of 300 fishermen will rear freshwater fish such as talapia, keli and patin all year round without depending on weather or sea conditions. “after six months of harvesting, each fishermen receive a minimum of rm500 as dividend,” he said, adding that lkim officials would supervise the project and ensure its success. mustapa also expressed gratitude to the state under adnan's leadership for supporting the ministry. he said, besides the 10 acres in kuala pahang, the state had approved 200 acres for an aquaculture project in nenasi. “approval has also been given for a food production park in lanchang. we hope the projects will contribute towards achieving the food production target under the third national agriculture policy,” he said.