16 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Agriculture TVET graduates' marketability rate at 81.23pct
SHAH ALAM: The marketability rate of Agriculture Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates under the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) rose to 81.23 per cent last year from 78.1 per cent in 2023.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the average has been on an upward trend for the past five years even though it remains under the national average, and that TVET is viewed as a catalyst as it nurtures young talent who are not only skilled in theories but excel in practical applications.
"In line with the Industrial Revolution 4.0, the agriculture sector requires a new approach to boost productivity, especially through robotic technology, Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI), with minimum resources.
"Modern agriculture is no longer about hoes and soil but I'm sure TVET students understand it is about high technology, automation, drones and smart farming to ensure future security," he said during his speech at the Agriculture TVET@KPKM Carnival here today.
The programme brought together 460 agriculture TVET students and over 200 employees from 16 TVET training institutes from the country and introduced 45 new innovations.
For Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM), the highest marketability rate for graduates was in the poultry field, with 100 per cent, followed by ruminant field and small machinery maintenance, at 93.2 per cent and 92.3 per cent respectively, while catch fishery and padi production both had the same marketability rate, at 91.7 per cent, he said.
"Currently the ministry has produced 25,783 graduates since the National Agriculture Skill Training Programme began in 1969.
"We hope that with the additional skilled labour in the field, we can boost the national agrofood industry competitiveness in the global market and ensure the continued food supply for the country," he said.
– Bernama
