KOTA KINABALU: The government should continue with efforts to empower the Young Agropreneneur programme during the tabling of Budget 2023, considering its impact on promoting the agriculture and agro-based industry to young people, says a youth activist.
Azizul Julirin said the programme needs to be continued to attract more young, especially in Sabah, to venture into agribusiness as preparation to face the possibility of a food security crisis.
Azizul said the government needs to increase the grant for young agropreneneurs and improve the online application method and the real-time tracking system.
“This is necessary to overcome the issue of leakage and bureaucracy,” he told Bernama.
The programme was introduced in 2016 through the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry to encourage youths, aged 18 to 40, to venture into agro-entrepreneurship based on the value chain of the agricultural sector such as crop production, livestock, fisheries and food and agro-based industries.
It also serves as a platform to change the youth’s perception of the agricultural sector as a viable industry, in addition to increasing the income of young agropreneurs through increased productivity, product quality, usage of technology and innovation and the provision of a competitive market.
Azizul, who is Kundasang Aquafarm managing director, has been involved in agroponic farming since 2016.
He also helped to train more than 2,500 farmers since 2018, as well as conducted industrial training for 155 graduates from 14 institutions of higher learning.
The Kinabalu Area Farmers’ Organisation Peladang Muda chief hopes the Budget will focus on having more Permanent Food Production Parks (TKPM) in each parliamentary constituency or district.
“It is to open up opportunities for youths to participate in TKPM projects because with a reasonable rental rate, it will encourage more youths to venture into the agro-food business and earn a good income,” he said.
Azizul said the function and role of the National Young Agropreneur Council should be empowered and placed under the ministry to provide a platform for young agropreneurs to voice their views in the planning of activities and determining their direction.
He also suggests setting up a stockpile in all states as a food storage centre, in addition to building a food estate for large-scale food production to reduce dependence on imports.
“Special incentives and grants should be given for the production of vegetable seeds and organic fertiliser to help farmers reduce farming costs,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sabah Youth Council president Abqaree Fawwaz Abekan said the Oct 7 Budget should give priority to empowering the economy of youths, including the cost of living, tax incentives and financial aid to help them start businesses.
“We are expected to face global economic challenges due to inflation, weakening of the Malaysian currency and disruption in the economic chain next year.
“As such, the government should continue with the digitalisation of small businesses by allocating special funds for digital marketing purposes such as advertisements on social media, website development and email marketing for small and medium enterprises,” he said.