MINDEF To Harness Idle Military Land For Food Security And Armed Forces Veterans’ Welfare

KOTA TINGGI, Oct 11 – The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) is implementing a proactive strategy to utilize undeveloped Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) land to support national food security while driving socioeconomic empowerment for military veterans.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin announced that the initiative will be executed through the JanaVeteran Programme in direct collaboration with Boustead Plantations (BPlant).

Speaking at a press conference following the launch of the JanaKomuniti Programme at Felda Air Tawar 3 in Kota Tinggi on Sunday, October 11, 2026, Mohamed Khaled stressed that idle land assets must be put to productive agricultural use.

Idle Land Strategy, Veteran Opportunities, and National Security Link

The defense ministry highlighted key operational goals, agricultural frameworks, and national security considerations:

• Repurposing Unused Land: MINDEF aims to optimize land plots that have remained untouched or without development funding for 10 to 15 years by converting them into active farming projects overseen by BPlant.
• Empowering Retiring Personnel: With approximately 5,000 military personnel retiring annually, the JanaVeteran Programme provides structured agricultural career paths, job creation, and sustainable income for interested veterans.
• Food Security as a Security Threat: Mohamed Khaled warned that severe food shortages or soaring food prices represent major national security threats, drawing a direct parallel to environmental hazards like prolonged, widespread haze.
• KayTi Ginger Cultivation Model: The pilot project began with KayTi ginger cultivation at Ladang Telok Sengat, featuring a guaranteed buy-back mechanism where BPlant purchases all harvested produce from veteran participants.
• Kota Tinggi Food Valley Vision: Through the JanaKomuniti Programme across Felda Air Tawar 2 and Felda Air Tawar 3, Mohamed Khaled aims to position the Kota Tinggi district as Malaysia’s premier production hub for KayTi ginger through clustered fertigation farming.

–NMT