BELURAN: The Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) has allocated RM6.43 million to repair and build new houses for fishermen nationwide this year.
The funds channelled through the Malaysian Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) for the fishermen housing project included RM3.45 million to Sabah.
The programme aims to improve the well-being of low-income fishermen, said Federal Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee during a walkabout to visit the various programmes for fishermen here today.
In total, more than RM150 million has been allocated this year to help the fishermen community including the monthly RM300 subsistence allowance (ESHN), diesel and petrol subsidies, fishermen fund, disaster and welfare fund, cash crops, fishermen group economic project and food basket programme.
Besides that, he said LKIM also channeled an allocation of RM500,000 to purchase a building for the Beluran Fishermen Association (BFA) and RM300,000 to construct an ice factory in Kampung Keramat here to store and market fishes for 2783 fishermen.
BFA also received RM100,000 under the special fund for fishermen association. which is one of the initiatives under the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (PRIHATIN) to carry out ice business.
Meanwhile, 50 fishermen who participated in the cash crop project received a one-off incentive from an allocation of RM100,000.
LKIM implements the B40 fishermen's enhancement income plan through the cash crop project for 3,006 fishermen through an allocation of RM4 million.
Kiandee also handed over food baskets to 100 members of the BFA to ease their burden during this ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.