KUCHING: The Malaysian Cooperative Institute (IKMa) has planned a total of 57 specialised programmes to be implemented in Sarawak in its effort to strengthen cooperatives’ involvement in the livestock feed innovation industry.
Its Director-General, Datuk Mohd Ali Mansor, said 21 of these programmes would focus on cooperative leadership development; 22 programmes to introduce the basics of cooperative business, and eight programmes on cooperative mentoring.
“IKMa hopes that by organising programmes like Bicara Ilmu, it will inject enthusiasm and innovation among cooperators, enabling them to continue to pool their efforts and strengthen collaboration to ensure that agricultural cooperatives remain the economic drivers for the people, a pillar for the country’s food security, and a platform for the welfare of rural communities,” he said.
He made these remarks in a speech read by Senior Director of IKMa, Mohamad Rasyidi Abdul Rashid, at the Bicara Ilmu Programme ‘From Waste to Comfort: Potential and Opportunities for Cooperatives in Livestock Feed Innovation’ held at BCCK on Thursday.
According to him, IKMa’s success in generating annual revenue of RM68.18 billion reflects the positive momentum in the agricultural cooperative sector, which is one of the key pillars in rural community development.
He revealed that last year’s statistics showed there were 3,787 agricultural cooperatives, 315 of which are based in Sarawak, such as the Miri Farmers Cooperative Bhd, Niah-Suai Sustainable Palm Oil Planting Cooperative Berhad, and Apong Saribas Cooperative Bhd.
Therefore, he believes that organising such programmes serve as a catalyst in fostering cooperation among cooperative members.
As of December 2024, there are 16,284 active cooperatives nationwide, with a membership exceeding 7.2 million.
The event organised by IKMa Zone Sarawak was officiated by the Deputy Minister of Modern Agriculture and Rural Development of Sarawak, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, who represented the Minister of Food Industry, Commodities, and Rural Development, Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
