The Star, July 9, 2010

State’s GDP can expect RM1 bil from agriculture in 2015, says CM

BUTTERWORTH: The agriculture sector is on track to contribute about RM1 bil towards the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“The sector contributed RM842mil towards Penang’s GDP in 2008 and in 2009 it was estimated at RM840mil”

“The high increase in our agriculture sector’s GDP contribution is due to several key development programmes that have been implemented.”

“Among them are our Agriculture Technology Development Systems and the introduction of Food Processing Zones(ZPM),” he said at the opening of the four-day state level Farmers, Fishermen and Livestock Breeders’ Day celebration at the Seberang Jaya expo site here yesterday.

Lim said the state focused on providing necessary training and expertise to nurture skillful farmers, fishermen and livestock breeders by adopting new agricultural technologies and practices.

Under the ZPM, he said, several mini factories aided by state Agriculture Department have been set up to enhance the food products processing industry.

“We now have a ZPM in Teluk Air Tawar in north Seberang Prai and another in Bukit Merah, central Seberang Prai,” he said, adding that a third ZPM would be set up in Relau soon.

Lim said the state Veterinary Services Department had also been actively promoting good farming practices by adopting green technology via the usage of useful microbes (UM) to create a healthier environment.

The state, he added, was also looking for suitable sites to help promote aquaculture activities.

“A company was recently given an offer to breed jenahak and siakap in an abandoned pond in north Seberang Prai.”

The event themed “Green the Earch” was earlier opened by Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas. It ends on Sunday.