Farmers' Organization Authority
# Farmers' Organization Authority

Farmers' Organization Authority (FOA) is a Malaysian government statutory body under the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries, Malaysia.

## History

Farmers' Organization Authority was founded on 14 February 1973 through the gazetting of Lembaga Pertubuhan Peladang 1973 Act (Act 110). FOA was founded to carry the responsibility of helping to strengthen the social and economy of agricultural communities under a specific body with specific functions.

Act 109, Pertubuhan Peladang 1973 Act was specially formulated to restructure farmers' societies and agro-based cooperatives. Under the jurisdiction of this act, farmers' societies are abolished and were registered again as farmers' organisation (FO), while agro-based cooperatives will become units of FO. To date, there are 1531 agro-based cooperatives and 119 FO servicing rural agricultural communities.

## Vision and Mission

### Vision

Farmers’ Organization Authority (FOA) as a leading agency promoting the development of professionally managed farmers' organisations.

### Mission

To develop Farmers’ Organization as an effective services provider towards the creation of commercial farmers.

## Functions of FOA

The functions of the FOA as laid down in the Act are as follows:-

* To boost, encourage and endeavour economic and social progress of farmers’ organisations
* To register, control and supervise Farmers’ Organisations and making provision for related matters. If a declaration was made through announcement under section 10, to design and implement any agricultural development in Farmers' Organization of those area and
* To control and co-ordinate the implementation of the activities

FOA implements all these activities that can be collated within three main functions as follow :

* functions as Registrar
* functions as Management Agent and
* functions as Development Agent.

### Registrar’s Function

Director General of FOA is Registrar of Farmers’ Organisation (FO) and agriculture-based cooperatives and is responsible for registering, supervising and controlling including auditing of account of all Area Farmers' Organization (AFO) and agriculture-based cooperatives. The power and tasks of the agency and registrar are related to :

* As Registrar of FO and agriculture-based cooperatives
* To supervise and control all activities of FO and agriculture-based cooperatives.
* To audit and control the account.
* To revoke registrations including abolishment of any organisation: and
* To give education and training to members

The Registrar has appointed the Chief Executives for related agencies as its representatives to facilitate operation and effectiveness of tasks and responsibilities of registrar in MADA, KADA and Sarawak. Director of state AFO were also appointed. However, the power to form, register, suspend, abolish and others are still under the jurisdiction of the Registrar.

### Management Functions

FOA gives management service to FO to facilitate operations and implements projects efficiently. The services given include staff administration, management services, training of staff of FO and consultancy services.

### Development Functions

The main thrust of FOA is to explore the economic and social development of FO and implements in an efficient and integrated manner to increase the income of FO to benefit members. Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006–2010), the Federal Government has allocated RM291 million for specific economic and social development of FO.

## Roles of FOA

FOA implements program and projects in line with current government policy in agriculture and rural development area including issues to reduce poverty gap and restructuring of society. The most relevant FOA's involvement in government policy are as follows:-

### National Agricultural Development Policy (NAP)

FOA plays assisting role in implementing balanced development in the program and projects to eradicate poverty and restructuring of society under National Development Policy. FOA implements various activities related to policies in the Third Draft Plan Perspective (2001–2010). These policies are related to:

* Developing a resilient country
* Developing towards a just society,
* Maintaining economic growth,
* Being Competitive globally,
* Developing economy that is based on knowledge (K-Economy),
* Strengthening of Human Resource Development,
* Development that preserve environment

### The Third National Agricultural Policy (NAP 3) 1998–2010

Under NAP 3, the direction, strategy and mechanism of new policy implementations were emphasised on agriculture and economy in total, concentration in food security, productivity, inflation, private sector investment in agriculture, export promotion and import reduction of imports that are not productive and conservation and usage of appropriate natural resources. Five FOA's main functions under FOA's Corporate Plan (2000–2005) and National Agriculture Policy are as follows:

* Stimulate and organise farmers to venture into agriculture projects that are based on climate and soil suitability, market demand and ability.
* Strengthening farmers’ institution in line with the Third National Agriculture Policy that aims to transform FO to become a business oriented organisation.
* Enhance entrepreneur farmers' development.
* Enhance human resource development.
* Equip FO with Information Technology facilities to enable them as the leading local agency in the rural sector.

## National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen Day

The Sixth of August each year was gazetted as National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen Day by the late Allahyarham Tun Abdul Razak. The celebration was first held on 6 August 1975 at the Parliament's compound with the theme of "Farmers' Unity – Farmers Are Important to the Country's Stability".

## Events

| Year | Date | Occasion |
| - | - | - |
| 1968 | 26 February | Establishment of the first Area Farmers' Association, Persatuan Peladang Mukim Kampung Buaia, Lubuk Merbau, Padang Rengas, Perak. |
| 1971 | 7 July | Establishment of the first State Farmers' Association, Persatuan Peladang Negeri Johor. |
| 1972 | 24 March | Inauguration of National Farmers Association (NAFAS). |
| | 6 August | Inauguration of Innovation Drive in conjunction with Terengganu State Development fest. |
| 1973 | 14 February | FOA established. |
| | 13 August | FOA launched. |
| | 19 November | First meeting of FOA Authority Body and Farmers Advisory Council. |
| 1974 | 22 June | First convention of National Farmers' Association Representation Council. |
| | 20 December | Green Book Plan aka Successful Earth Drive was launched. |
| 1975 | 25 February | Official opening of Machang Farmers' Advancement Centre, Kelantan. |
| | 6 August | First National Farmers' Day. |
| 1976 | 8 March | Official opening of Area Farmers' Organization of Repek / Telong, Bachok, Kelantan. |
| | 26 March | Establishment of KNB~LPP, FOA staff cooperative. |
| 1979 | 2 June | Official opening of AFO Lembah Pergau / Kuala Balah, Kuala Krai, Kelantan. |
| 1981 | 29 June | Official opening of Farmers Advancement Centre of Ulu Kusial, Kelantan. |
| 1983 | | Establishment of Farmers' Organization Authority of Federal Territory of Labuan. |
| 1991 | 25 February | Official opening of Johor State FOA Complex building. |
| 1992 | 18 May | Official opening of the office of AFO Gombak / Petaling, Selangor. |
| 1993 | 3 February | Establishment of Sabah State FOA. |
| 1994 | 3 March | Permodalan Peladang Berhad (PPB) was founded. |
| 1995 | 22 June | First Annual General Meeting of Permodalan Peladang Berhad. |
| | 26 June | Official opening of Peladang Inn Tioman, Pulau Tioman, Pahang |
| | 13 December | Establishment of Peladang HeiTech Sdn. Bhd. |
| 1996 | 18 April | Official opening of Perak State FOA building. |
| | 23 May | Farmers' Education Foundation was founded. |
| 1998 | 6 December | Official opening of farmers management institute, Institut Pengurusan Peladang (IPP) Langkawi, Kedah. |
| 2002 | 29 November | Establishment of agricultural entrepreneur club, Kelab Usahawan Tani (KUAT). |
| 2006 | 23 January | Inauguration of FOA new logo. |
