LAHAD DATU: Sabah holds vast potential to expand its agri-food sector through agriculture, livestock farming, aquaculture, and food processing, but realising this requires a skilled workforce, appropriate technology, and strong market linkages, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
In a speech delivered by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk James Ratib at the launch of Sedia AgroFoodPakar here on Saturday, Hajiji stressed that expanding the sector is vital for safeguarding food security, generating community income, and advancing the Sabah Development Corridor Blueprint 2.0.
Fully funded by the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia), the pioneer two-day programme enables 80 participants at Lahad Datu Vocational College (KVLD) to obtain a Malaysian Skills Certificate Level 3 across eight agriculture and agri-food disciplines via prior achievement recognition and practical assessment.
Hajiji added that Sedia has also partnered with KVLD for an Economy Ministry-backed ginger cultivation programme, targeting 30 participants from the B40 group to earn RM2,000 monthly by farming 1,000 ginger seedlings each on a three-acre plot.
Complementing these efforts, a coconut-planting initiative across 10 acres at KVLD aims to introduce modern downstream farming practices to students while attempting a Malaysia Book of Records feat for the most coconut seedlings planted in a single event.
