KPK Drafts Initiatives To Transform Agricommodity Sector Into Technology-based Sector

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK) has drafted several initiatives to transform the agricommodity sector from labour-based to technology-based.

Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said the initiatives include promoting mechanisation and automation, strengthening human capital through skills training and offering structured skills training. 

He said the government continuously encourages industry players to adopt Internet of Things (IoT)-based machinery, as well as mechanisation and automation in the palm plantation sectors for jobs such as spraying insecticides and fertilising using drones.

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“Mechanisation not only speeds up the work process and increases productivity, but it also helps reduce dependency on manual labour and foreign workers.

“The government is also providing tax exemptions through the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) to benefit industry players in the commodity sector when investing in fixed assets and to improve what they have implemented, such as smart plantation technology, automation, mechanisation and IoT,” he said during the question-and-answer session in Dewan Rakyat today.

Chan was responding to a question from Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli (PN-Dungun) concerning the KPK’s plan to transform the agricommodity sector from a labour-based sector into a highly-skilled sector based on new technology to attract local youths and reduce dependency on foreign workers.

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He said the ministry, via the Institute of Malaysian Plantation and Commodities, is offering various skills programmes, including the Farm Mechanisation Operators course in the Malaysian Palm Oil Training Centre (Plasma), Certificate in Rubber Technology through the Hevea Academy Malaysia and Certificate in Furniture Making from the Wood Industry Skills Development Centre (Wisdec).

“These skills training can further improve the skill sets and competency of highly-skilled workers,” he added.

Regarding the offer of structured skills training, Chan said its modules are based on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and fulfil Malaysian Skills Certification Levels 2 and 3, as well as being accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.

“The majority of graduates from this programme have received job offers.  This initiative offers a better career path for youths joining agricommodity sector TVET (programmes),” he said.

-- BERNAMA