KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 21 July 2023 – Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor of Ford in Malaysia, and Sime Darby Rent-A-Car (SDRAC)–Hertz Malaysia today handed over a Next-Gen Ranger XL to SEEDS Malaysia in support of the social enterprise’s upcoming ‘Farm to Farm to Food’ travelogue series.
The travelogue aims to promote agrotourism, which is increasingly popular in Malaysia, with a focus on natural farming – a sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural approach that has gained significant attention and interest in recent years.
Also known as ecological farming, natural farming involves working in harmony with nature, minimising the use of synthetic inputs, and more importantly, focusing on improving soil health, biodiversity and overall ecosystem resilience.
The Next-Gen Ranger XL will be the primary mode of transportation for the SEEDS Malaysia team members as they embark on a cross-country farm tour to acquire content for the travelogue. In addition to the vehicle’s capability of navigating demanding terrains and off-road conditions – many farms are in remote locations – the fuel-efficient Next-Gen Ranger XL will also help reduce costs for the social enterprise.
The tour is scheduled to begin in Sarawak at the end of July in the lead-up to the inaugural Sarawak Agrotourism Conference & Expo (SAtCE), which is happening on 28-30 August 2023 at Borneo Conference Centre Kuching. The farm tour will resume in September to Sabah and Brunei before heading to Southern and Northern Peninsular Malaysia towards the end of the year.
“Embracing sustainability is not just a choice; it is a responsibility we owe to our planet and future generations. We are more than happy to offer our support in any way we can and wish SEEDS Malaysia every success in their upcoming travelogue series,” said Turse Zuhair, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion-Ford.
“With the growing interest for agrotourism in the country, especially key markets like Sabah and Sarawak, we are glad to partner with SDAC-Ford to provide the rental of the Next-Gen Ranger XL for SEEDS Malaysia. By harnessing the power of collaboration, we can help increase awareness of sustainable farming,” said Harun Mohd Joned, Managing Director, Sime Darby Rent-A-Car–Hertz Malaysia.