Description

The Bachok-Besut-Setiu-Kuala Berang Agro Valley is an area of 5,000 ha covering the districts of Bachok and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan and the districts of Besut, Setiu and Ulu Terengganu in Terengganu. The zone was identifi ed because of its vast area currently used for short-term crop (mainly watermelon, fruiting and root vegetables, and sweet corn) cultivation and also because of the high incidence of poverty in the area. The project will cover alienated land belonging to smallholders and existing Permanent Food Production Parks (TKPM). The project will also involve marginal paddy areas in Kemasin Semerak and tobacco areas for crop diversification.

The Kuantan-Maran Agro Valley covers an area of 1,000 ha in the district of Kuantan and Maran in Pahang. These are existing and potential vegetable areas that will benefi t from the development of the KL-Kuantan central corridor.

The Pekan-Rompin-Mersing Agro Valley encompasses an area of 4,000 ha covering the districts of Pekan and Rompin in Pahang, and the district of Mersing in Johor. At present, the majority of these areas are planted with vegetables and short-term crops like sweet corn and watermelon. The project will involve smallholders’ land and existing TKPM.

The agro valley will have a number of supporting services including the establishment of collecting, processing and packaging centres (CPPC) in Besut, Kuantan and Rompin. The CPPC is a one-stop centre for collecting, grading, processing and packaging of products for both the local and export market. The CPPCs will be the nerve centre for the development of the zones. The Bachok-Besut-Setiu zone will also be linked to the national food terminal (TEMAN) that will be established in Kota Bharu in the 9MP.

Project Rationale

The rationale for the projects include: