03-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Call for Perlis youths to take up agriculture, reduce reliance on aging farmers
PADANG BESAR: Youths in Perlis are being called on to take up agriculture as a viable career path, amid concerns that the sector is increasingly reliant on elderly farmers.
According to the state-level 2024 Agriculture Census Interim Report, 54.4 per cent of farmers in the state are aged 60 and above. In contrast, only 18.2 per cent of those involved in agriculture are between 15 and 45.
State Agriculture, Plantation and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Razali Saad said it was crucial to get young people involved to ensure long-term food security and economic sustainability.
"There are many government incentives and support schemes in place to help young people get started in agriculture, as this sector plays a key role in our state's economy, and the youth should seize the opportunity to develop their own ventures," he told reporters today.
Razali said many senior farmers currently active had only entered agriculture after retiring from other careers, which partly explained the demographic imbalance.
"The challenge is that many young people still prefer jobs outside agriculture. This is why we need to promote the sector more actively as a professional and rewarding option," he added.
