PUTRAJAYA: The Green Earth Campaign Programme, launched in March 2006 with four main components — farming, livestock rearing, aquaculture and social development — will be implemented nationwide soon.

Announcing this yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the programme was among the steps taken to encourage urban and rural folk plant vegetables and other food items to enhance the level of household sustenance.

“At times when the world prices of goods and food are on the rise, such a step can also reduce household expenditure.

“Under the programme, urbanites are encouraged to plant leafy vegetables, fruits, herbs, spices; rear fish in canvas and breed free-range chicken,” he told reporters after launching the ‘Putrajaya Folk Green Earth Programme with Prime Minister’ here.

The prime minister also expressed confidence that the programme would be the start of national green revolution where land was used for the people’s and country’s prosperity.

Abdullah said land was God’s gift and the people could make use of empty fields to prosper themselves through various ways, meet daily needs and reduce spending.

“Besides beautification trees, we can still plant trees that can produce fruits and vegetables. All these when they bear flowers and fruits, not only they beautify the area but they can also be eaten.

“This is what we want to stress,” he said.

Besides, he said, edible plants in excess could also be sold and bring extra income.

Abdullah hoped empty areas would be used for this purpose and said that leaving it unattended was a waste.

“We want unproductive fertile land becomes productive,” he said.

“I purposely invited Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar (Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan) and Melaka Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam) (to yesterday’s programme) to start programmes like this.

“Negeri Sembilan will start next week and Melaka in the next 10 days. No need to wait. It is not that difficult. The Agriculture (and Agro-based Industry) Ministry is ready to provide the seeds,” he said.

He said the Green Earth Programme should be practised continuously and not only during crisis.

He said if an empty space being worked on was to be used for development, the developer would give three months’ notice before developing it.

 — Bernama