SHAH ALAM, Oct 5 — The empowerment of cooperatives through the Sabak Bernam Development Area (SABDA) could expand market access for local products and ensure the smooth operation of agriculture and tourism systems, said SABDA chairman Datuk Rizam Ismail.
He added that this would allow the consistent bolstering of food security supply chains and reduce dependence on middlemen that dominate wholesale market traders.
“With these cooperatives, we are more focused on the marketing and promotion side for local agriculture products. The main thing is how we guarantee marketing for these rural farmers.
“This is better as it can provide competition for middlemen that often offer farmers lower prices,” he told Media Selangor.
SABDA, which involves six projects on a 1,317ha plot, started last year and is expected to generate RM1.9 billion in investments and provide 3,600 jobs for residents.
It involves five clusters — adding high-value commodities, establishing support services, developing agro-based and downstream industries, improving the tourism sector, and stimulating infrastructure development.
Meanwhile, Rizam, who is also state executive councillor for rural development and unity, said SABDA is going well and is benefiting residents, even as it faces difficulty attracting investors.
“However, from all angles, SABDA is going smoothly and is even supported by the Second Selangor Plan (RS-2), seeing as this project contributes to the local economic potential and improves local incomes,” he added.
In August, he said that among SABDA’s long-term plans for the next five years is the MD2 pineapple farming project, Selangor papaya seed production by 2027, and hybrid coconut seed production from 2029 to 2031.
Rizam said that to prevent wasting land, several cash crops like Yankee pineapple, guava, banana, okra, eggplant and bitter gourd are underway to generate income for entrepreneurs and farmers.
