Latest news with #FamaFest
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Perak to grow onions in more districts
Domestic crop: Perak cultivates Malaysia's first commercially produced onion. GOPENG: The silver state, which has begun branding its commercial onion cultivation as 'Perak onions', will expand farming to three more districts with a further RM1.4mil allocation from the Federal Government. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the pilot project started in the Batang Padang district last year. This would be expanded to the Kuala Kangsar, Muallim and Perak Tengah districts. Perak has the distinction of pioneering Malaysia's first commercially produced onion. Saarani said 'Perak onions' are found to be tasty and sweet. 'This makes them attractive to buyers,' he told reporters at the closing of the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) Fest 2025 at the Rural Transformation Centre here yesterday. Also present was Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup. Saarani said the state would identify the areas that meet the criteria for growing onions. 'The crop requires fertile soil so that it can produce good yields,' he added. Saarani said it was important to ensure the districts have suitable land because onions require the right type of soil to grow quality produce. 'Even though they can be planted anywhere, we need to find the most suitable land because that is what will yield good onions,' he added. Arthur, in his speech, said one of the most commendable achievements is the successful production of Perak onions. He said this success is the result of a collaborative effort between the Agriculture Department and the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute. 'Thus, the ministry has allocated an additional RM1.4mil to Perak to expand the cultivation area for onions this year,' he said. It was reported in April last year that Perak was the first state in Malaysia to harvest around 2.3 tonnes of the BW1 onions at a site in Kampung Ladang Bikam. Perak is reported to be one of six states that will be the main producer of BW1 onions for domestic consumption. On the Fama Fest, Saarani said he was pleased there had been an increase in participants with more products, more young agropreneurs and higher sales. 'As I mention often, my slogan for Perak is 'plant what we want to eat, eat what we plant, the surplus can be sold or donated.'' 'The goal is to encourage more people in Perak to take up farming, so that we don't have to depend on imports. 'Sometimes we have to wait for chilies from abroad. When our currency drops, prices go up. And sometimes we wait for vegetables or meat from overseas. 'This makes us Malaysians dependent on agricultural products from other countries and that is not good,' he said. Saarani also spoke about the impact of global happenings such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine-Russia war and how prices of onions soared in India when it went through severe weather conditions. As such, he said it is important for Malaysians, especially for the people of Perak, to get involved in farming.
The Star
3 days 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
3 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
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Agriculture now lucrative, tech-driven sector for youth
GOPENG: Agriculture is no longer viewed merely as a traditional livelihood but has evolved into a lucrative sector offering high-income potential and modern opportunities. Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup said the agriculture and agri-food sector remains vibrant and promising, particularly for the younger generation. "The issue of ageing farmers is not unique to our country; it is a challenge faced globally. "The ministry has several initiatives to attract more young people to venture into agriculture," he told reporters after attending the closing ceremony of the Perak Fama Fest 2025. The event was officiated by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad at RTC Gopeng here today. He was commenting on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof's remarks that there is a need to rejuvenate the agriculture sector by attracting more participation from the younger generation. This follows the findings of the 2024 Agriculture Census, which revealed that 458,395 agricultural operators are aged 60 and above; 326,287 are between the ages of 46 and 59; and 224,147 are aged between 15 and 45. Arthur also outlined several initiatives by the ministry to attract more youth into agriculture. "Our first initiative is expanding market opportunities through programmes like Fama Fest. This not only helps farmers market their products effectively but also highlights the sector's high-income potential. "Secondly, we are introducing modern farming methods. We encourage farmers to adopt technology and innovation rather than relying solely on conventional practices. "This approach not only enhances productivity but also appeals to young people by integrating elements like manufacturing, maintenance, and operations into the agricultural value chain," he added. He said other initiatives include providing technical and vocational education and training (TVET) courses. "The ministry offers fully funded TVET programmes in areas such as livestock, fisheries, and vegetable cultivation. These courses include accommodation and daily allowances to support participants," he said. He also emphasised the need for collaboration with state governments to ensure adequate funding and land availability to support young farmers in expanding and developing the agriculture sector. "Only through collaboration can we empower the next generation to lead the agriculture industry into the future," he said. Commenting on the event, Arthur said that Perak has been a key pillar of the Fama Fest programme, now in its seventh year. "Last year, our sales target for Perak Fama Fest was RM2 million. Due to the overwhelming response, we surpassed that target with RM2.6 million in sales. "This year, we've set a higher target of RM3 million. With 210 exhibitors participating over five days, we are confident of achieving this goal," he added. He added that Perak typically contributes the largest share of sales to the national Fama Fest programme, accounting for about 30 per cent of total sales last year. "This year, our target is RM6 million nationwide for the entire Fama Fest series," he said, adding that the festival will continue in other states, including Sabah, Selangor, and Negri Sembilan.
The Star
4 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.
