By Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
BAGAN DATUK: A total of RM3.6 million has been allocated by the Federal and Perak state governments for the Perak Mussel Farming Programme over a two-year pilot phase, aimed at boosting the economy of coastal communities and strengthening the state’s food security.
Under the programme, 24 pilot mussel farming plots, each covering 50 acres or 21 hectares, are now operational in Bagan Datuk.
Perak Rural Development, Trade, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun said the programme covered four coastal districts in the state, namely Manjung, Kerian, Larut Matang and Selama (LMS), as well as Hilir Perak.
He said this after officiating the programme at the Bagan Datuk Public Jetty here on October 30.
To support the smooth operation of the farming activities, equipment assistance worth nearly RM800,000 was also officially handed over to programme participants.
The assistance package, provided by the Federal and state governments, includes technical equipment such as mussel farming cages, high-quality mussel seeds and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices for marine navigation.
He said the programme focused on increasing mussel production while creating economic opportunities for coastal communities.
According to the latest 2026 data, a total of 10,590 metric tonnes of mussels had been landed in Perak through seabed mussel aquaculture activities.
The programme is expected to enhance the competitiveness of the state’s aquaculture subsector and strengthen Perak’s position as a major mussel production hub in the country, capable of meeting domestic market demand consistently.
The initiative also supports the agenda of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security as well as the state’s Perak Sejahtera 2030 development vision.
