KANGAR, Agrobank has reinforced its commitment to uplifting the asnaf (tithe recipients) and B40 communities by distributing iTEKAD grants worth RM100,000 to 20 agropreneurs for an MD2 pineapple cultivation project in Chuping, near Padang Besar.
According to Agrobank President and Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin, each participant — comprising B40 individuals and military veterans — received RM5,000 to purchase additional equipment for cultivating a five-acre plot rented from Felda Global Ventures (FGV).
“This initiative is part of Agrobank’s collaboration with Aqina Fruits Sdn Bhd, which also covers pineapple farming projects in Beaufort and Pekoti. For Chuping and Beaufort, each project has an allocation of RM6 million, while Pekoti received the highest funding of RM12 million,” he said in a statement.
In total, Agrobank and Aqina Fruits’ contract farming collaboration under the B40 model has secured RM24 million in funding. As a development financial institution, Agrobank also provides financing facilities of up to RM280,000 for each participant to cover initial project capital.
Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah noted that the MD2 pineapple cultivation programme forms part of Agrobank’s broader efforts to strengthen socio-economic development, particularly for low-income groups.
“Beyond improving livelihoods, this initiative also supports the growth of the agricultural sector and boosts pineapple production to meet both local demand and export opportunities,” he said. 
Through the iTEKAD initiative, Agrobank has also rolled out several programmes, including the MAINJ Micro-Entrepreneur Financing Programme, the BERNAS Farm Partner Programme, the Oil Palm Replanting Scheme, and the Vessel Modernisation and Catch Mechanisation Programme.
These programmes are designed to empower asnaf and B40 entrepreneurs by combining three essential components: seed capital, micro-financing, and financial training.
