A total of 68 individuals have receive RM30,000 each in Agricultural Transformation Grants (GTP) under the Malaysian Indian Transformative Agri Programme (MITAP), an initiated for the increasing Indian community participation in the agriculture sector.
MITAP is an initiative by the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (MITRA) and is carried out together with MARDICorp under the Indian Community Socioeconomic Development Programme.
MITRA director-general K.Raveendran Nair said MITAP is divided into two components, one is QuickWin MITRA, and another one is Young Agropreneur Programme (PUM). Through QuickWin MITRA, grants up to RM30,000 were given to 68 young entrepreneurs to help them grow their agricultural businesses.
Meanwhile, PUM provides participants with a 10-month training programme to build their knowledge and skills in agricultural entrepreneurship. So far, 8 participants completed the programme. The participants will continue to receive support from MARDICorp and will have opportunities to take part in the other government agricultural entrepreneurship programmes and initiatives.
The grants covers a few areas within the agricultural sector, such as food crop production, dairy cattle management, beekeeping, oyster mushroom cultivation, freshwater fish farming and food processing technology.
MARDICorp managing director Mohamad Zamir Ghazali said the corporation will continue guiding the participants in areas like marketing their produce, developing downstream products and introducing new technology.
Some participants have also joined agricultural associations, allowing them to build stronger connections and gain more opportunities to grow their businesses. According to Mohamad Zamir, MITAP is not only a programme for participants to gain new knowledge, but also serves as a networking platform that can help them move towards in the industry.
Through MITAP, MITRA and MARDICorp hope to equip more Indian agropreneurs with the skills, support and opportunity needed to build a sustainable business in Malaysia’s agriculture sector.
Sources: Bernama,
