JERLUN: Kedah Umno Youth has proposed that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in agriculture be introduced in the state to attract the younger generation.
Jerlun Umno Youth chief Nazri Arshat said that there was currently no TVET programme in agriculture.
He said this meant most of the technology and expertise in the field would have to be acquired from abroad, particularly from Japan and China.
He said that Kedah, as the country's main rice producer, should be the first location for the implementation of the TVET agricultural programme, as its community has long been exposed to the sector.
"Jerlun Umno Youth suggests that a TVET college be established as a centre for agriculture programmes in Kedah to attract young people to join in the future.
"If this TVET centre is opened, we will have the opportunity to explore new technologies in agriculture, thereby increasing agricultural output, especially rice, and ensuring food security," he said during the Jerlun Umno delegates Annual General Meeting here yesterday.
Nazri, who is also Kedah Umno treasurer, said the agriculture sector, like other fields, required highly skilled workers to ensure the quality of the output.
He said that there were many experts in the Kedah Agriculture Department and Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada) who could be invited to provide training in the programme.
"Until now, we have relied heavily on foreign technology to facilitate agricultural work, and even drones for pesticide application and fertilisation of padi fields have to be imported.
"It is time for young people, especially the children of farmers nationwide, to receive agriculture training so they can develop new technologies in the field," he said.
He added that agricultural TVET programmes could also help young people not keen on furthering their education in academic fields to venture into agriculture.