KPKM Encourages Youth To Join Agricultural Sector Via TKPM Projects

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- The Permanent Food Production Park (TKPM) project is one of the initiatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) to attract the interest of youth to venture into agriculture.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Chan Foong Hin said the project is a collaboration between the federal government and the state government to enable the younger generation to apply for agricultural land.

"For example, in the state of Johor there are nine TKPMs while nationwide, the total number has reached 76 projects. This initiative allows youth who are interested in planting and raising livestock to access land in a more organised manner," he said when answering a supplementary question from Senator K. Saraswathy in Dewan Negara today.

The ministry is confident that the move can support the agenda of building a highly skilled agricultural workforce and young agri-entrepreneurs, thus contributing to increasing the productivity of the country's agro-food sector.

Chan also said that the ministry is also opening up space for cross-ministry and agency coordination to identify potential land for agricultural development, in line with efforts to expand opportunities for the young.

He also advised the youth to monitor the websites and social media of their respective state agriculture departments because land application opportunities are often announced to the public.

Meanwhile, in a separate question and answer session, he urged rice farmers to immediately report to the ministry if there is any manipulation in the padi weight deduction system by the manufacturer or buyer in the field.

He said that intervention action will be taken immediately if there are parties who deliberately affect the income of rice farmers through unhealthy competition or giving remuneration to certain parties which affects the padi deduction rate.

"The padi deduction system should be based on 'rice check'. If there is a specific case where the benefits or benefits of the rice farmers are set aside (as a result of the business dynamics), please report to the ministry," he said,

He was responding to Senator Baharuddin Ahmad's claim during a supplementary question regarding the manipulation of the padi weight deduction system which does not commensurate with the rice farmers' income, believed to be due to the remuneration given by the millers to the lorry driver which affects the padi deduction rate.

-- BERNAMA