ABOUT 300 youths aged between 18 and 40 have received development allocations to pursue farming, says state rural development, plantation, agriculture and food industry committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun.
He added the Modern Farmers Young Brigade is one of the programmes created especially for those aged between 18 and 40.
“Last year, 297 youths aged below 40 received development allocations under various programmes to cultivate various food crops on 10,935ha of land.
“A total of RM120,000 was allocated, including for land preparation, electric fencing and irrigation system, fertiliser, pesticide, farming equipment and plant materials,” he said in reply to Muhammad Zulfadli Zainal (Perikatan Nasioanal-Slim) during the Perak State Assembly sitting in Ipoh.
Muhammad Zulfadli wanted to know what programmes were held for youths to enhance their role in the agriculture and plantation industries.
Mohd Zolkafly said the Perak State Agriculture Development Corporation is committed to developing agropreneurs among youths, including farmers, livestock breeders, growers and industrial entrepreneurs.
“The corporation has come up with an entrepreneur loan scheme where interest-free loans of up to RM100,000 for up to five years are offered, as well as the asnaf (hardcore poor) who received tithe grants of up to RM5,000 for their agriculture ventures.
“Besides that, there are also young agropreneur grants for youths up to 40 engaged in basic farming or crop cultivation,” he added.
Mohd Zolkafly said that the state government had also identified government land for agricultural purposes.
