Latest news with #AgricultureandFoodSecurityMinistry
The Star
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
‘More youths showing interest in agriculture'
Many are unaware of the grants to assist youths in starting up their own business in farming, livestock farming, fisheries or agro-based industries. — Filepic IF you are between 18 and 45 years old and want to venture into farming, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry is offering a start-up grant worth up to RM30,000. Johor Fruit Farmers Association chairman Alvins Lo said many people were unaware of the 'Geran Agropreneur Muda' (GAM) to assist youths in starting up their own business in farming, livestock farming, fisheries or agro-based industries. 'Interest among youths towards the agricultural sector has increased in recent years. 'We have been receiving many inquiries from youths looking for entrepreneurship opportunities and subsidies in the agriculture sector, which is a good sign,' he said in an interview. As such, the association organised an agricultural talk in Yong Peng attended by about 40 youths. Lo said the association invited Batu Pahat Agriculture Department's urban farming unit assistant officer Muhamad Izad Zolzali who spoke about incentives and subsidy programmes available for the participants to apply. Lo (left) presenting a token to Muhamad Izad who shared about the incentives for young farmers. 'He promoted the GAM initiative, which was met with enthusiasm from the attendees as the grant addresses the needs of young farmers by providing them non-cash assistance. 'The speaker gave a detailed explanation about the eligibility of the grant and common reasons for rejection,' said Lo. He added that Muhamad Izad also gave tips and recommendations for their application such as financial planning and harvest estimates. Lo said there was an opportunity for GAM recipients to further apply for another initiative called GAM Scale-up, to help them with upstream activities. 'The scale-up grant, worth up to RM50,000 per individual, would be disbursed in the form of agrotechnology, mechanisation and automation equipment. 'In the question-and-answer portion of the event, Muhamad Izad addressed the participants' concerns and advised them to register their business as an enterprise to ease subsidy applications as well as enjoy future benefits,' he added. Apart from disseminating information about the incentives, the talk was also a way of bridging the gap between the government agency and young farmers. Lo said the association would continue working closely with the ministry to organise more talks to promote initiatives such as the Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices and Maximum Residue Limits for pesticide use. 'It is through good agricultural practices and management that we can ensure our farmed products reach consumers in a safe and edible condition to improve market standards. 'I also took the opportunity to encourage the young farmers to join the association as a platform to communicate and build strength to contribute to agricultural development,' he said.
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Govt clearing path for more young farmers
Sowing seeds of progress: Saarani (centre) at a ceremony for Fama Fest 2025 @ Perak at the Gopeng Rural Transformation Centre, flanked by Arthur (left) and Fama chairman Aminuddin Zulkipli. — Bernama GOPENG: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry is intensifying efforts to attract more youth into agriculture as the country grapples with an ageing farmer population, says Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup. Acknowledging that many farmers were now in their 60s, the Deputy Minister said the issue was not unique to Malaysia but part of a global trend. The country is implementing targeted measures to address the issue, he added. 'We are taking proactive steps to attract more young people to take part in the agriculture sector,' he told reporters after joining Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad to close the Fama Fest 2025 at the Gopeng Rural Transformation Centre, yesterday. Arthur was commenting on the preliminary findings from the 2024 Agriculture Census, which noted that Malaysians aged over 60 make up the largest segment of the country's farmers while around 90% of farmers had only completed their education up to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia level. The census – the first in more than two decades – aims to provide a comprehensive picture of the country's agricultural and food production landscape. Arthur said among the key initiatives was organising programmes such as Fama Fest to create wider market access for young agropreneurs. He said these events not only helped promote and sell agricultural products but also highlighted the sector's potential for generating lucrative income. 'We want to show that the agriculture and agri-food industry is a viable and profitable career path. 'The ministry is also advocating for a shift away from conventional farming methods to modern, technology-driven agriculture,' said Arthur. 'This includes the use of innovation in every aspect of the industry, from production to operations, and creating a broader ecosystem of employment opportunities,' he added. Arthur said the ministry was also actively promoting agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training programmes. 'These courses, which cover areas such as livestock, fisheries and vegetable farming, are fully funded by the government, including accommodation and daily expenses, to make them more accessible to youth. 'There is also a need for cooperation from state governments. It is important that land and financing are made available to ensure young people have the resources to grow and expand their agricultural ventures.' Arthur said the ministry hoped that these combined efforts would revitalise the sector, ensuring food security and sustainability for the future.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Fama Fest aims RM6mil sales, pushes for youth participation
GOPENG: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry is targeting RM6 million in total sales through the Fama Fest programme organised by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) in six states. Its deputy minister, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, said the programme will be held in Sarawak, Johor, Perak, Selangor, Sabah and conclude in Negri Sembilan in September. "The Perak government remains one of the key contributors to the Fama Fest series, which is now in its seventh year. "Last year, the sales target for Perak was RM2 million, but due to overwhelming response, we surpassed that with RM2.6 million in total sales," he said when met after the closing ceremony of Fama Fest @Perak 2025 at RTC Perak here today. He said this year's target for Fama Fest @Perak had been raised to RM3 million, with 210 booths operating over five days from May 29. "Fama Fest @Perak is usually the top contributor, accounting for 30 per cent of total nationwide sales at last year's event," he said. Arthur said the programme is one of the government's initiatives to attract youths into the agriculture sector, which is currently dominated by individuals aged 60 and above. "Events like this create more marketing avenues for local producers and demonstrate that agriculture and agri-food are lucrative industries with strong income potential," he said. He emphasised the need to move away from conventional farming methods towards more modern approaches that incorporate technology and innovation, adding that this creates a long value chain, from production to operations and maintenance. He said the ministry strongly encourages participation in agriculture-related Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses offered under the ministry. "We will cover all expenses for these programmes, including courses, accommodation and daily allowances. This is part of our effort to attract young people into agriculture," he said. On May 29, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also energy transition and water transformation minister, revealed that 224,147 agricultural operators aged between 15 and 45 were recorded in the 2024 Agriculture Census, making up 22.2 per cent of the sector's workforce. – Bernama
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Perak to expand onion cultivation to more districts
GOPENG: Perak will expand the cultivation of the BAW-1 red onion variety, also known as Bawang Perak, to several districts identified as suitable for the crop. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the districts include Kuala Kangsar, Muallim and Perak Tengah, in addition to Kampung Ladang Bikam in Sungkai, Batang Padang, which began planting the variety last year. 'We will open new areas that meet the criteria for onion cultivation, as it must be grown on fertile soil to produce high-quality yields. Bawang Perak is known for its sweet and flavourful taste, which adds to its market appeal. 'So far, four districts have been identified as suitable, and we will expand to several more,' he told reporters after launching the FAMA Fest 2025 @ Perak at the Rural Transformation Centre here today. Also present were Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup and State Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun. Saarani said a total of 12.4 metric tonnes of Bawang Perak was produced last year from a nine-hectare cultivation area. Earlier, in his speech, Arthur mentioned that the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has allocated an additional RM1.4 million this year to expand the cultivation of the variety. He said the commercial-scale production of Bawang Perak - the first of its kind in the country - was a significant milestone made possible through collaboration between the Perak Agriculture Department and the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI).
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Govt boosts initiatives to engage youth in farming
GOPENG: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry is intensifying efforts to promote youth involvement in agriculture, amid concerns over Malaysia's ageing farmer population, says Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup. The deputy minister stated that, with many farmers now in their 60s, the ministry recognised that the ageing farmer issue is a global challenge. He said that the country would implement targeted measures to address the issue. 'This is not a challenge unique to Malaysia. We are taking proactive steps to attract more young people to the agriculture sector,' he said at the Fama Fest 2025, which was held at the Rural Transformation Centre here on Sunday (June 1). Arthur was responding to the preliminary findings from the 2024 Agriculture Census, which indicated that Malaysians over the age of 60 constitute the largest segment of the country's farmers, while approximately 90% of all farmers have only completed education up to the SPM level. Arthur said that one of the initiatives was the organisation of programmes such as Fama Fest, which aim to create broader market access for young agropreneurs. 'We want to show that agriculture and the agri-food industry are viable and profitable career paths. 'The ministry is also advocating for a shift away from conventional farming methods, urging a transition to modern, technology-driven agriculture,' he added. He said the ministry was also promoting agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes. 'These courses, which cover areas such as livestock, fisheries, and vegetable farming, are fully funded by the government, including accommodation and daily expenses to make them more accessible to youth. 'There is also a need for cooperation from state governments. It is important that land and financing are made available to ensure young people have the resources to grow and expand their agricultural ventures,' he said.
