Latest news with #EhsanDairyFarm
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Selangor's Ehsan Dairy Farm to boost local milk production by 2026
KUALA KUBU BHARU: The Selangor Agriculture Development Corporation (SADC) will launch the large-scale Ehsan Dairy Farm by early 2026 to strengthen local dairy production. Datuk Dr Mohamad Khairil Mohamad Razi, SADC's group CEO, stated the project targets reducing Malaysia's reliance on imported dairy, currently at 94.7%. The 42-acre Sungai Tengi facility will rear 1,200 hybrid Jersey-Holstein cows to yield 1.8 million litres of milk annually. Mohamad Khairil noted the farm will generate RM7.5 million yearly and create 100 jobs, supporting Selangor's Food Security Action Framework 2021-2025. Deputy PM Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Selangor MB Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari attended the farm's groundbreaking ceremony today. The farm will deploy smart tech like automated milking systems and health-monitoring neck collars for precision livestock management. Mohamad Khairil added, 'This federal-state collaboration will position Ehsan Dairy as Malaysia's benchmark for modern dairy farming.' The initiative aligns with national agro-food modernisation goals to stabilise domestic food supply chains. SADC, a Selangor state entity, focuses on agri-development projects to enhance socioeconomic growth through commercial and CSR programmes. - Bernama
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Zahid: Strengthen agriculture sector through TVET
KUALA KUBU BARU: The country's agricultural industry needs to be strengthened through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to reduce dependence on food imports, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He said the move was important to ensuring food security, including in the dairy sector, to meet the needs of the domestic market. Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development minister, said the National TVET Council is prepared to channel assistance and collaborate with agricultural training institutions nationwide to implement the initiative, especially through high-tech courses to attract the interest of young people. "The existing modules are good, but in my view, integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) and modern teaching pedagogy into TVET is essential. Learning should comprise only 30 per cent classroom sessions, with the remaining 70 per cent conducted in the field to give students real-world exposure to agriculture," said Zahid, who is also National TVET Council chairman. He said this at a press conference after opening the groundbreaking ceremony of the Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation's (PKPS) "Ehsan Dairy Farm" Dairy Cattle Complex in Kuala Kubu Baru today. Also present were Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and PKPS Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Mohamad Khairil Mohamad Razi. Zahid added that premium salaries should be offered to TVET graduates in the agricultural sector, rather than being tied to a minimum wage of RM1,700, to attract more young people to join the industry. He said TVET graduates holding the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level Three are eligible to receive a minimum salary of RM3,000, while those with SKM Level Five qualifications can earn up to RM5,000 a month. "SKM Level Five is equivalent to a diploma, and due to strong market demand and high employability, it can command a premium salary of around RM5,000. "This will certainly encourage young people to venture into this field," he said. On "Ehsan Dairy Farm", Zahid described it as a game changer for PKPS in its efforts to boost local dairy production, thereby helping to reduce the country's reliance on imports. "We import about 94.7 per cent of the country's dairy needs, which is worth RM4.6 million a year. "The prime minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), when tabling the 13th Malaysia Plan recently, highlighted that one of the significant burdens we face is the need to import food products, including dairy, from abroad. "This PKPS initiative is a proactive step towards significantly reducing our reliance on dairy imports," he said. The Ehsan Dairy Farm, expected to begin operations in early 2026, will be located on about 16.7 hectares at the Sungai Tengi PKPS Farm. It will house more than 1,200 high-quality Jersey-Holstein Friesian (F2) dairy cows from Australia, a country renowned for its expertise in industrial dairy farming.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Strengthening agriculture sector through TVET for food security
KUALA KUBU BHARU: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called for the strengthening of Malaysia's agricultural sector through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to curb the nation's dependence on food imports. He emphasised that this approach is crucial for achieving food security, particularly in the dairy industry, to meet domestic demand. As Minister of Rural and Regional Development and Chairman of the National TVET Council, Ahmad Zahid stated that the council is ready to support and collaborate with agricultural training institutions nationwide. He highlighted the need for high-tech courses, including the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) and modern teaching methods, to attract youth participation. 'Learning should comprise only 30% classroom sessions, with the remaining 70% conducted in the field to provide hands-on agricultural exposure,' he said during a press conference after launching the Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation's (PKPS) Ehsan Dairy Farm project. Ahmad Zahid also proposed premium salaries for TVET graduates in agriculture, suggesting that they should earn significantly more than the minimum wage of RM1,700 to make the sector more appealing. Graduates with a Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level Three could earn at least RM3,000 monthly, while those with SKM Level Five qualifications, equivalent to a diploma, could command salaries of up to RM5,000. He described the Ehsan Dairy Farm as a transformative initiative for PKPS, aimed at boosting local dairy production and reducing Malaysia's heavy reliance on imports. Malaysia currently imports 94.7% of its dairy needs, costing RM4.6 million annually. The farm, set to operate by early 2026, will span 16.7 hectares at the Sungai Tengi PKPS Farm and house over 1,200 high-quality Jersey-Holstein Friesian dairy cows imported from Australia. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and PKPS Group CEO Datuk Dr Mohamad Khairil Mohamad Razi were also present at the event. – Bernama
