JOHOR will pump RM51 million into its agriculture and food industry, in line with the state food supply guarantee programme, said Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad today.

According to Hasni, the state government will, through the funding, begin the RM6 million food supply guarantee programme, by cultivating 2,200ha of land.

“The Johor government will also implement a paddy yield improvement programme with an allocation of RM6 million, as well as exploring new export markets and the development of agro-entrepreneurs as well as the meat and ruminant industry,” said Hasni when tabling the state budget at the Johor Assembly in Iskandar Puteri today.

To show the government’s appreciation for leading companies and entrepreneurs in the agriculture and agro-food sectors, for the first time, a grant of RM2 million to implement the collaboration programme will be provided, he said.

He said that the Johor government will also provide RM19 million for pineapple production as Johor accounts for 58% of national pineapple cultivation.

“The Johor government will also gazette five areas as the fishing industry zone: Mawai, Kesang Laut and Parit Keroma for freshwater fish farming; Kukup for mussels and Sungai Johor for marine fish,” he said.

To drive and revitalise the tourism sector post-Covid-19, the state government has also provided RM14 million to Tourism Johor to review the Johor Tourism Master Plan 2014-2023.

“A total of RM500,000 will be go to develop the Johor Tourism Interchange (JTI) to transform the digital tourism economy that will connect all product owners, travel operators and industry players on one digital marketplace platform.

“Tourism vouchers amounting to RM1.5 million are also allocated to revitalise the accommodation segment and selected shopping and retail outlets in the state,” he said.

He said that the state government has allocated RM20 million from the trust fund for the construction of the Rumah Insan Johor, an addition to the people’s friendly homes project implemented by the federal government in Johor.

Under these initiatives, 400 housing units will be built, he said.

Five Johor Affordable Homes (RMBJ) districts have been selected for the project for a period of five years, with an allocation of RM310 million: Kluang, Tangkak, Johor Baru, Batu Pahat and Pontian.

He added that four development parks will also be built in Pontian, Batu Pahat and Johor Baru through PIJ Holdings.

Meanwhile, the Johor State Water Regulatory Authority (Bakaj) will be upgraded to the Johor Water Management Board.

Hasni said that the state government was also in the process of formulating the Johor Water Management Board Enactment.

“The state government is very committed to ensuring the quality of clean water for the the people of Johor. Therefore, the state government has agreed to develop water resource management infrastructure,” he said.

Hasni said the state government through Bakaj was also committed to implementing the Sungai Johor barrage upgrade project, with an allocation of RM2.5 million.

“This project will prevent the penetration of salt water into water treatment plants as well as increase the storage capacity of raw water released from the Linggiu dam,” he said.

Apart from that, Hasni said the state government was providing RM1.7 million to improve water quality and prevent river pollution.

Among them, physical and periodic monitoring of rivers, which supply raw water to treatment plants using geospatial technology, with an allocation of RM1 million, and the construction of three units of online monitoring systems to monitor pollution and water quality of Sg Skudai, Sg Ulu Benut and Sg Muar, with an allocation of RM700,000.

Also, in a collaborative effort with the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), the smart water treatment plant project and the use of water resources will be implemented, with an allocation from the federal government of RM2 million.

He said for flood mitigation plans, river and estuary dredging projects will be continued, with an allocation of RM20 million, as well as an increase in drainage maintenance allocation to RM40 million.

In terms of environmental sustainability, a total of RM3.53 million is allocated for the river sustainability programme which includes the one district one river programme, with an allocation of RM2 million to provide awareness to the local community on the importance of rivers, and the Sungai Kim Kim rehabilitation programme, with an allocation of RM500,000, in collaboration with four universities.

Hasni also said the state government will develop an integrated scheduled solid waste management centre to address the problem of pollution of chemical waste and scheduled waste caused by illegal disposal. – Bernama, November 26, 2020.