Agroscience Education Can Propel Agriculture And Food Production Sectors

NILAI, July 11 (Bernama) -- Agroscience-based education can propel the agriculture and food production sectors, which in turn can boost Malaysia’s economy and ensure the wellbeing of its people, said Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang.

In tandem with the rising importance of agriculture, the University College of Agroscience Malaysia (UCAM), is offering a range of agroscience courses as the forerunner in the education sector.

“Agrofood production needs technical expertise in terms of IT and engineering, using modern technologies such as drones and the Internet of Things, which has opened up job opportunities in the agriculture sector. 

“And what UCAM is offering has also changed the perception that the field of agriculture is not an attractive career choice. We are offering agroscience courses to produce agronomists and agropreneurs, not only among our full-time students but also among the rural communities,” she said at the 20th UCAM convocation at Dewan Tuanku Canselor Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), here today. 

Also present at the convocation marking the graduation of 300 students, who received their respective degrees, diplomas and executive programme certificates, was UCAM chief executive officer Faizatul Akmar Hisan.

Rubiah said that not many graduates choose a career in agriculture due to the 3D factors - Dirty, Danger and Difficult - despite the sector offering various choices in a class of their own.

She said UCAM has produced 5,268 graduates in the fields of agroscience and agropreneur to date, which has had a positive effect on the economy as a whole, reducing unemployment and providing supply chain support in agriculture.

“UCAM’s role in developing the economy and becoming a successful institution in the rural community has been proven by its foray into the halal industry. As we know, halal certification is very important to fulfil the needs of Muslim consumers. 

“It gives assurance to the consumers on the halal status of the products and services while also playing an important role in international trade,” she said. 

Rubiah said UCAM has trained about 500 entrepreneurs under the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) and 150 industry parties to obtain halal certification from the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (JAKIM).   

She said UCAM also has a Food Handling Training centre recognised by the Health Ministry to conduct safe food handling courses for food-based entrepreneurs.  

“I am confident that UCAM has great potential to become a centre of excellence in research and education in the agriculture sector. With solid support from various parties and the increase in relevant academic programmes, UCAM can attract more talented students and provide innovative agricultural solutions,” she said.  

Meanwhile, UCAM has expanded its curriculum into Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to meet the demand for workers in the agriculture, entrepreneur, information technology, design and creative multimedia sectors.  

The first intake of 15,000 women for the Special Women’s TVET under this curriculum is a collaboration between Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTEM) and UCAM.

“I am confident this Special Women’s TVET programme can be a good example and catalyst for more institutions of higher learning to offer such collaborative programmes for a win-win situation,” Rubiah added.

-- BERNAMA