Disclaimer: Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak,UiTM
This material may be protected under Malaysia Copyright Act which governs the making of photocopies, reproductions or copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized materials for study or research.
KOTA KINABALU: Youths training in agriculture should be equipped with entrepreneurial skills, said Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
Speaking to graduates of the Integrated Agricultural Training Centre (IATC), Kitingan said they should use the knowledge and skills gained at the centre to start their own agricultural enterprises instead of seeking employment.
"This is because the main purpose of the centre is to produce confident, skilled and competitive agropreneurs.
"Thus, the courses at the centre were developed and designed with this in mind, and trainees were identified and selected based on their potential as agropreneurs.
"This means that the trainees who graduated today already have the talent and potential to be successful agropreneurs. So, I hope they don't waste these talents by limiting themselves to being employees for the rest of their lives," he said at the IATC 26th Convocation Ceremony at the Wisma Wanita here.
-ADVERTISEMENT-
Disclaimer: Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak,UiTM
This material may be protected under Malaysia Copyright Act which governs the making of photocopies, reproductions or copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized materials for study or research.
Apart from entrepreneurship, Kitingan, who is also the state agriculture and fisheries minister, encouraged the 49 graduates to continue supplementing their knowledge with other soft skills such as digital marketing to take advantage of new platforms such as social media to market their products and services.
He also urged them to arm themselves with financial know-how and to be aware of government-linked companies and other agencies such as Sabah Credit Corporation and AgroBank that could assist them in funding their projects with low-interest loans.
"I am pleased that trainees at IATC were exposed to modern agricultural practices such as aquaponics and hydroponics.
"I am confident that not only did it expose them to new technology, but it also increased their confidence in carrying out similar projects in future," he said.
