RM1.37mil grants to 55 agropreneurs in Sabah

Penampang: Fifty-five young agropreneurs in Sabah have received government grants amounting to RM1.37 million since the programme was first implemented in September 2013 until May this year.Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said they were among 3,014 recipients nationwide who benefited from the programme, with a total cash assistance of RM79.18 million, during the same corresponding period.

Initiated by his Ministry, the Young Agropreneurs Programme aims to encourage youth participation in the agriculture sector which, in turn, would help create more budding entrepreneurs in the sector.

In 2017, the Government has set a target to produce and develop 3,000 youths nationwide through the programme from an allocation of RM100 million.

Its main objective is to attract the interest of youths between the ages 18 and 40 to venture into agriculture and change their perception on the industry as one that can generate a high income for them.

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"Their participation will indirectly help to create more job opportunities and reduce unemployment rate among youths in urban and rural areas.

"So, I urge youths in Sabah to grab this opportunity and view agriculture as a choice of career that can generate a high income," he said, during a breaking of fast organised by Umno Penampang division held at the Penampang Police Headquarters, here, Thursday.

During the occasion, he presented the grants to nine young agropreneurs from Penampang parliamentary amounting to RM151,000.

The grants are meant to support their respective micro businesses, including cake-making, open fertigation chili farming, fresh water fish farming and fruit juice production.

The recipients were Hanafiah Ismail, Muhamad Hafizan Taraweh, Hilkda Fidelis, N.Y. Sufeena Sharmela Mohd Khanafeh, Norafniza Jinurahim, Cyril Vitus, Edmund Masamil, Aaron Solibun and Tommy Mainin.

Shabery said he hoped to see more young Sabahans to receive the grant in the near future and will continue to work with local leaders to reach out and identify those qualified to be supported.

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Also present at the event that saw a few hundred local community members attending was Penampang Umno Division Chief Datuk John Ambrose.

John, when met later, gave his assurance that he would continue to do his part in helping youths in the district to explore opportunities in the agriculture sector and taking their micro businesses to the next level. - Leonard Alaza

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