Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and his deputy, Adly Zahari, mingle with media representatives during the Defence Minister’s breaking of fast event with media practitioners. Also present were Media Prima Omnia chief operating officer (Direct Solutions) Datuk Mohd Efendi Omar, and Armed Forces Chief, General Datuk Mohd Nizam Jaffar. PIC BY NSTP/ASYRAF HAMZAH
KUALA LUMPUR: The JanaVeteran programme initiative is set to benefit armed forces veterans by providing them with opportunities to venture into agriculture after completing their military service.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the initiative is being implemented by the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) in collaboration with Boustead Plantations Bhd (BPlant) and the Veterans Affairs Department.
He said the effort would not only help strengthen the country’s food security but also create opportunities for armed forces veterans to generate income in agro-entrepreneurship.
“The initiative will involve several programmes, such as the Ginger and Fertigation Chilli Cultivation Programme, which will provide fertigated plots spanning 105ha to selected military retirees, 80ha for ginger farming and the remaining 25 hectares for chilli cultivation.
“In its initial phase, the programme is expected to benefit 100 armed forces veterans as entrepreneurs managing fertigation farming using modern technology,” he said at a breaking fast event with media practitioners here today.
Present were Armed Forces Chief General Datuk Mohd Nizam Jaffar; Deputy Defence Minister, Adly Zahari; Army Chief, General Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan; LTAT chairman, Tan Sri Azizan Ariffin and Perbadanan Perwira Niaga Malaysia (Pernama) chairman, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal.
Khaled said the JanaVeteran ginger and fertigation chilli initiative is starting with a pilot project in Kota Tinggi, Johor.
“BPlant will provide 15 fertigation plots for 15 participants on a 12ha-site, where each participant has the potential to earn up to RM3,000 per month.
“Through this programme, armed forces veterans involved are expected to produce 3,500 metric tonnes of ginger and 350 metric tonnes of chilli annually over the next three years,” he said.
He added that the Veteran Agro-Entrepreneur Programme is also being implemented to provide retirees with opportunities to become agricultural entrepreneurs by cultivating cash crops listed under the National Food Security Programme.
“As part of this effort, BPlant has identified 300ha of its land in Peninsular Malaysia for cash crop cultivation,” he said.
At the event, Khaled also officiated the pre-launch of the Perwira Super App, developed by Pernama Network in collaboration with Mastercard International.
He said the app is designed for the Defence Ministry community, incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate the ministry’s digital transformation with advanced security features, efficiency, safety, and user-friendly functions.
“This app will benefit the defence community economically, promising a digital transformation specifically for defence personnel, veterans, and all subsidiaries under the ministry’s purview,” he said.
Source: New Straits Times
