Tenom: The KPD-Oisca Youth Training Center is currently sponsoring 15 of its graduates to continue their studies for 1-3 years in Japan to produce skilled workers in agriculture to deal with food security issues in Sabah.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey G Kitingan said the advanced studies sponsored by Oisca Japan International involved 10 existing students in Japan while three left last month and two more this month.
“The need for skilled labour in agriculture is very important when self-sufficiency in rice and meat production is still at 23 per cent and is projected to increase to 60 percent in 2030,” he said.
Dr Jeffrey, who is also State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister said this when officiating the Convocation Ceremony of the KPD-Oisca Youth Training Centre in Lagud Seberang, Thursday.
According to him, agricultural technology in Japan is very advanced and it is hoped that the opportunity to continue agricultural studies in that country can be utilised as best as possible to bring agricultural knowledge back to Sabah for mutual benefit.
He said so far there are three graduates of the course, currently working as instructors at the Japan Oisca training centres.
During the convocation of the 16-month course at the training centre, a total of 54 graduates received certificates to become agricultural entrepreneurs or skilled workers in the agricultural industry.
“Some of the graduates were selected to continue their studies at the Oisca International Centre in Japan and some became teaching staff in Sabah and Japan,” he said.
The course, which includes 20 per cent theory and 80 per cent practical, is recognised by the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) under the National Occupation Skill Standard (Nos) curriculum.
Among the skills learned were mushroom cultivation, food processing, rice production, poultry farming and crop production.
