SARIKEI: The agri-commodity sector is opening up new career and business opportunities for young people as technology, product development and downstream activities reshape the industry.
Plantation and Commodities Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said technological advancements were transforming the sector from basic production into a field offering diverse economic opportunities.
She said the development allowed young people to take part not only in commodity production, but also in technology, research, marketing and downstream product development.
“Every farm needs a successor. The question is, do our children want to continue the efforts that their parents have built?” she said when officiating the MADANI Agri-Commodity Carnival at Dewan Sentral Sarikei on Friday (Aug 14).
Noraini said efforts to attract the younger generation to the sector must be accompanied by exposure to relevant skills and knowledge, enabling them to see agrikommodity from a broader perspective.
She said youths had an advantage in terms of technological proficiency and creativity, which could be harnessed to introduce new approaches to farm management and marketing.
Noraini also urged young people to take advantage of programmes related to agrikommodity to learn more about training, skills and career prospects in the sector.
She said inherited family land or farms could serve as a foundation for building a business if managed systematically and supported by access to markets.
“Do not see the family farm as something that should be abandoned. With proper management and access to markets, the farm can be developed into a modern enterprise,” she said.
She added that downstream activities offered significant opportunities for young people, particularly through the production of commodity-based products with higher market value.
According to her, involvement in processing, packaging, branding and marketing could provide new avenues for the younger generation to establish their own businesses.
Noraini said the transformation was important to ensure the agrikommodity sector continued to attract a new generation capable of carrying forward the legacy of previous farmers through more innovative approaches.
“In the hands of the new generation, an inherited farm can become a greater source of income. That is where their future can be built,” she said.
