Agricultural Census 2024: Terengganu Records 60.4 Pct Completion Rate

JERTIH, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Terengganu has achieved a 60.4 per cent completion rate for the Agricultural Census 2024, conducted by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), trailing behind Penang, which has reached a 65.3 per cent completion rate since the exercise began on July 7.

Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the percentage reflects the completion of the census for 55,815 out of 92,000 residences involved in agricultural activities. Additionally, 75.6 per cent, or 363 business establishments out of 480, involved in the same activity have also been visited by the enumerators.

“This census, which will run until Oct 10, covers households and business organisations involved in agricultural activities, such as food crops, commodities, livestock, fisheries, aquaculture, logging and forestry.

“Besut district recorded the highest proportion of residences involved in agriculture at, 30.9 per cent, followed by Hulu Terengganu (30.3), Setiu (27.7), Dungun (20.2), Kemaman (17.8), Kuala Terengganu (14.3), Marang (13.3) and Kuala Nerus (8.9),” he said.

He said this to reporters during a visit to the Agricultural Census 2024 site, at the Terengganu honeydew melon (MMT) project site, at the Permanent Food Production Centre (TKPM) in Kampung Tok Dor, here, today.

Mohd Uzir said that the agricultural sector was the third largest contributor to Terengganu's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year, accounting for 7.5 per cent, or RM2.9 billion.

“The crop subsector is the largest contributor within the agricultural sector in this state, making up 58.6 per cent, followed by the fisheries subsector at 15.6 per cent, the livestock subsector at 14.5 per cent, and the forestry and logging subsector at 11.4 per cent,” he said.

“Recognising the significance of this sector, the Agricultural Census 2024 is a crucial effort to assess the performance of the agricultural industry in Terengganu,” he added.

Mohd Uzir also visited various subsectors in each district, including the aquaculture subsector in Kampung Chabang, Kerteh, Kemaman, and dairy cattle and goat farming in Kampung Kuala Besut, in addition to the MMT Tok Dor project. The visit was also attended by deputy Agricultural Census commissioner Marlini Sahul Hamid.

-- BERNAMA