SIBU: The perception that farming is not a glamorous profession with slow returns is prompting youths to take up other jobs, said Agriculture (Research and Marketing) Assistant Minister Datuk Mong Dagang.
He lamented that despite the many efforts by the government to assist rural youths to venture into agriculture, not many were keen.
“Unfortunately, not many youths are interested in doing farming and this has something to do with the perception that one has to get dirty to plough the land and so on. Sadly, they don’t realise the returns are there.
“I believe this also has to do with the slower pace of returns per se from agriculture as it is not possible to reap immediate yields. For example, if you plant a rubber tree, it will take about five years before you can start tapping.
“They prefer other daily paid work such as those in oil and gas sector where returns are rather immediate,” Mong told reporters after officiating at GiatMara central zone II graduation (January–June 2013 session) at Tanahmas Hotel here yesterday.
He pointed out that the main thrust of the government now was on a few areas, namely planting of rubber and oil palm.
“We have given a lot of assistance to the rural people, those keen to venture as smallholders of rubber and oil palm. But now, oil palm has been taken over by MPOB.
“So, there are various assistances or programmes that we can give to rural youths who are keen to make agriculture their profession. On top of that, there are also other programmes like livestock farming. Then, there are also programmes from Agriculture Department to assist the youths,” explained Mong, who is Bukit Begunan assemblyman.
Earlier, GiatMara Selangau manager and coordinator for central zone II Irwan Abdullah, who represented state director Rakawi Nawi at the function, revealed that central zone II comprised five GiatMara centres – namely Julau, Kanowit, Lanang, Sibu and Selangau.
“The main thrust of GiatMara is 80 per cent towards technical skills training in various fields, 15 per cent to assist the government in producing entrepreneurs and five per cent towards assisting the government in implementing programmes to eradicate poverty,” Irwan said in his opening remarks.
He pointed out that for central zone II, they offer skills training in fashion and dressmaking, motorcycle technology course, automotive, wiring and metal fabrication.
Irwan revealed that several plans had and would be implemented for the zone between this year and next.
GiatMara Sibu would start another course latest by next year in addition to what had been offered, he disclosed.
GiatMara Kanowit is in the process of relocation to a three-storey shop lot near BSN in Pekan, and there is likelihood that GiatMara Julau would be housed there as well, he said.
On GiatMara Sibu, he said it is moving to Mara industrial area while GiatMara Lanang has just started offering an automotive course. Irwan mentioned that they had organised 1Malaysia training, which was among the programmes to eradicate poverty.
“For ‘Program Bantuan Rumah’ (PBR), we are in the midst of implementing the programme to repair houses – 24 in GiatMara Kanowit, 24 (Julau), 34 (Sibu) and 30 in Selangau.
Among those present were Sibu District Mara officer Jemie Menchol, central zone I manager Abadi Hussein, GiatMara Sibu manager Mohd Nurr Affifee Affandi, GiatMara Lanang manager Nordin Shapiei and GiatMara Kanowit manager Syafiee Mohd Kadir.