The Klebang Selatan KRT (neighbourhood watch) Community Hall has become a tapioca chips processing and selling centre.
It was established by the Global Environment Centre (GEC) with joint effort from Yayasan Hasanah through the Hasanah Special Grant 2020 (HSG2020). The KRT is also a one-stop centre (OSC) for urban farming, processing and marketing of local food products.
According to the Director of GEC, Faizal Parish, the effort to make the KRT a processing and selling centre of tapioca chips was motivated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted sources of income during the resulting Movement Control Order.
“Some of the residents in Klebang Selatan, especially those under the B40 category, hold jobs such as owning businesses, contract work, construction labour and more.
“With the HSG2020, GEC has been able to empower communities to develop food products from their own gardens, which includes processing and marketing through online platforms, as a part of food security improvement.
“For starters, the Klebang Selatan KRT here has published their very own Tapioca Chips Facebook page, while the chips are already being sold at the Shell Station in Bercham,” he explained during a media session after a launching ceremony of the KRT as a processing and selling centre today (April 10).
Also present were the Mayor of Ipoh, Dato’ Rumaizi Baharin and Head of Community Development for Yayasan Hasanah, Anita Ahmad.
Rumaizi commended the effort, stating that the food production initiative is a great reinforcement of the local economy via alternative income generation.
“Thus, we (MBI) will continue supporting meaningful causes like this in times to come. This programme is able to positively impact socio-economic development which subsequently helps communities pull through these ongoing tough times.
“Hopefully, the retailing of these chips as a locally incepted product will be widened even more to the likes of supermarkets and e-commerce platforms,” he expressed.
The tapioca chips are available in three flavours: original, spicy and tomyam. To order or for more information, go to their Facebook page or contact 011 6151 0716.
Chris Teh
=============================
Get your local news fast. Download the Ipoh Echo App on your mobile. Available on both Google Playstore and Apple Appstore.
