Malaysian Armed Forces’ MADANI Economy Programme yields RM25,000 from community agriculture, with plans to expand to 30 more camps nationwide
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Armed Forces’ (MAF) MADANI Economy Programme has generated RM25,000 in income from community farming projects.
The revenue came from the production of approximately one tonne of agricultural produce as of last February.
Asisten Ketua Staf Perkhidmatan Anggota (AKSPA) Mejar Jeneral Datuk Zahari Mohd Ariffin said the success was achieved through 96 projects at 60 military camps nationwide since the initiative’s introduction in 2025.
The programme involves military family communities in various economic activities including stingless bee keeping, tilapia farming, hydroponics, urban farming and retort food processing.
“This is a socio-economic development programme focusing on the welfare of military personnel families,” Zahari said during an appearance on Bernama TV’s Apa Khabar Malaysia programme.
He highlighted synergy with the Ministry of Higher Education, higher learning institutions, Boustead Plantations and Perbadanan Perwira Niaga Malaysia (PERNAMA).
Zahari noted that during the programme’s first two phases last year, one camp generated RM18,000 from mushroom cultivation.
Following this positive impact, MAF plans to expand the programme this year by targeting 60 new projects at 30 additional military camps nationwide.
The expansion will focus on increasing community participation in camps, exposure to modern agricultural technology and maximising production output.
“The hope of the Ministry of Defence and MAF is that this ecosystem can continue with the involvement and commitment of the military community,” he said.
Zahari added that the programme implementation idea was initiated by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin in 2024.
This initiative subsequently brought expertise from higher learning institutions into its execution.
He also informed that the programme’s agricultural produce, particularly mushrooms cultivated through urban farming concepts, are available for public purchase at PERNAMA outlets in military camps nationwide.
The Sun Malaysia
