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Use incentive, aquaculture farmers urged

PEKAN: Only RM1mil of a RM113mil incentive fund, set aside for aquaculture farmers and fishermen to make claims for losses incurred due to rising operational costs, has been disbursed.
According to the Fisheries Department aquaculture development director Ismail Abu Hassan, it was sad that the farmers did not use the fund meant for them when they were in dire straits.
He noted that they were reluctant to make the claims because of the forms they had to fill and the documents they had to produce to support their claims.
“The process is stringent but necessary as we do not want any misuse of the fund since the claims are paid in cash,” Ismail told reporters after a dialogue with farmers and fishermen involved in aquaculture projects in Cherok Paloh, Telok Gosong and Kampung Sawah here recently.
Boosting ties: Ismail (fourth from left) Pahang Fisheries Department director Mohamad Mat Saman (second from left) mingling with fishermen from Kampung Tanjong Gosong who received boat licences at the event in Pekan recently. Bernamapic
He presented boat licences and confirmation letters to those who qualified for the aquaculture support service scheme.
Ismail said the department would hold briefings on how to fill the forms and make the claims.
“We will get Agro Bank officers to work on it as the incentive is channelled through the bank.
“Those who have not opened bank account can do so during the briefings,” he said, adding that the money was in the bank and they should use it to get back on track.
Although fuel prices had gone down, farmers and fishermen could still submit claims as prices of seeds, animal feed, fish fry and others had doubled and this hampered their operations, Ismail said.
Earlier during the dialogue, Ismail said the Government had approved RM2.9bil to assist farmers and fishermen badly hit by rising costs.
“The Government is doing all it can to cushion the effects of the price increases.
“All you need to do is to continue to work hard,” he added

By ROSLINA MOHAMAD
The Star

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OKU miliki 17 kolam ikan air tawar

PEKAN 26 Okt. - Di mana ada kemahuan, di situ ada jalan.

Itulah perumpamaan yang sesuai bagi menggambarkan kegigihan seorang kurang upaya yang kini memiliki sebilangan kolam ikan air tawar hasil usahanya dalam bidang akuakultur di Kampung Tanjung Pulai di sini sejak lapan tahun lalu.
Dengan hanya berbekalkan modal permulaan sebanyak RM1,200 dan sebuah kolam ikan air tawar pada tahun 2000, Mohd. Khairi Othman, 31, yang kudung kedua belah tangan dan kaki sejak lahir, kini bergelar usahawan yang mempunyai 17 kolam ikan air tawar.
Lebih mengagumkan, Mohd. Khairi yang berkerusi roda dan terpaksa mengesot memasuki ladang ternakannya, mampu menguruskan kolam tersebut bersendirian dan meraih pendapatan ribuan ringgit sebulan.
''Aspek penjagaan harian seperti memberi makanan dan pemantauan saya lakukan sendiri.
''Bagaimanapun, saya akan mengupah beberapa pekerja untuk mengangkat ikan dari kolam," katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia ketika ditemui di kampung itu, baru-baru ini.
Mohd. Khairi yang masih bujang berkata, dia bertekad memulakan projek ternakan ikan air tawar tersebut apabila menyedari kekurangan yang ada pada dirinya dan berasa perlu melakukan sesuatu demi memperbaiki taraf hidupnya.
''Saya mula menimba pengalaman dengan membantu salah seorang saudara saya menguruskan kolam ikan air tawar miliknya di sebuah kawasan berdekatan kampung ini.
''Sejak itu minat timbul dan dengan bermodalkan RM1,200 serta sebuah kolam ikan yang dipinjamkan oleh saudara saya itu pada tahun 2000, saya memulakan perniagaan sendiri," katanya.
Mohd. Khairi memberitahu, ketika ini kolam ikannya mampu mengeluarkan lebih 600 kilogram ikan talapia dan patin bagi setiap lima bulan.
Menurutnya, pasaran ikan air tawarnya tertumpu di pasar-pasar basah di daerah ini selain orang ramai yang datang terus ke ladang ternakannya itu.
Ditanya mengenai rancangan masa depan, dia bercadang menambah kolam ikan sedia ada, sekali gus meningkatkan hasil pengeluarannya.
Tambahnya, kekurangan pada diri bukan halangan untuk maju dalam bidang yang diceburinya itu sebaliknya menganggapnya sebagai cabaran.
''Saya berpegang kepada prinsip bahawa setiap kekurangan pasti ada kelebihan," tegasnya

Utusan Malaysia