TERAJU mahseer farming project targets monthly income of up to RM6,000
The RM2.2 million programme involves 15 participants from Johor’s B40 group and is scheduled to end in 2027.
A mahseer farming programme run under the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU) is targeting monthly earnings of up to RM6,000 for participating entrepreneurs, compared with a current average of around RM4,000, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said.
Speaking at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Johor Bahru on Nov 3, he said the commercial project had also supported academic research with the university and the development of local entrepreneurs.
TERAJU Business Services and Entrepreneurship senior director Mohd Najib Jaafar said the project started in 2022, with completion scheduled for 2027. Its RM2.2 million allocation funds pond construction, quality mahseer fingerlings and local hatchery capabilities intended to reduce future dependence on external supplies.
The project involves 15 participants from Johor’s B40 group. Akmal Nasrullah said each participant has three ponds, with 45 ponds developed in collaboration with UTM and industry partners.
He said mahseer need two to two-and-a-half years to mature for optimal returns. Participants also farm tilapia to obtain quicker yields and support cash flow while waiting for the mahseer to mature.
Akmal Nasrullah said harvests were expected in 2026 and 2027, with mahseer selling prices projected at between RM400 and RM600 per kilogram.
