Translation by: Siti Nur`Ain Feisal

In the MegaChili 2021 workshop, alumni mentor Hariz Ramly, Deputy Director Johor State Department of Agriculture, said that MegaChili 2021 project implemented by Universiti Putra Malaysia through Alumni Relations Centre UPM (ARCUPM) in collaboration with Residential Colleges at Serdang and Bintulu campus, Student Affairs Division, UPM Alumni Association (PAUPM), Centre of Entrepreneurial Development and Graduate Marketability, Faculty of Agriculture collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry is right on time.   

According to statistics released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (2019), Self-Sufficiency Ratio (SSR) is low at 30.8%. This means that chili is among the prioritised plantings.   

The plantings that are prioritised are durian, jackfruit, watermelon, papaya, banana, mangosteen, rambutan, and tomato. This can be a list of references for participants upon graduation to focus on agropreneur.   

Many allocations have heve been given by the government in an effort to assist agropreneur. These allocations are an initiative to encourage the amount of production in the country on crop yields that have been identified.   

In the workshop, Hafiz Ramly shared a few important inputs on allocations provided for agropreneur that maybe is unknown to many.  

Allocations for Agropreneur

Allocations under specially drafted programmes such as:

• Program Pembangunan Industri Pengeluaran Tanaman Makanan Utama with RM4.4 million allocation 
• Program Pembangunan Komoditi Berpotensi offering relief in terms of input, materials and tools, nursery infrastructure, small machinery, and acquisition for promotional purposes like signage and etc. Maximum rate offered is RM10,000.00 for each project.  
• Program Pembangunan Setempat provided for community development programme targeted group and Projek Galakan Ekonomi Pertanian Rakyat. Allocation of RM2.8 million. Under this programme, many scopes of acquisition relief provided to assist agropreneur to generate their income.  
• Program Pembangunan Industri Asas Tani. This programme emphasises the development of agricultural-based industry and young agropreneur programme. Youth under the age of 40 is given priority those involved in plantation and agricultural-based industries with an incentive rate of RM20,000.00 for every entrepreneur.    
• Program Pembangunan Pertanian Lestari / Pengeluaran Makanan Selamat. This programme emphasises the development of sustainable agriculture and community organic development project and the development of food security production.  

Essentially, the government prioritised agropreneur by allocating various development programmes toward strengthening and sustaining the agriculture sector which is the heart of the national economic source.     

As alumni mentor and agricultural expertise, Hafiz Ramly welcomes project participants to grab the career opportunity in becoming agropreneur.  

Becoming an agropreneur is capable to challenge self-credibility and utilising knowledge gained at university in the agricultural sector. With Knowledge We Serve UPM motto applies to all students.  

 

Date of Input: 13/08/2021 | Updated: 28/03/2023 | hafzaini