KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 (Bernama) -- Agro-Food Subsector are urged to engage and participate in adoption of technological upgrades and modern farming techniques as a solution to the shortage of 40 % labours in the agro-food subsector, particularly in Cameron Highlands.
 

The Agro-Food Productivity Nexus (AFPN) and Electrical & Electronics Productivity Nexus (EEPN) with supports of Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) will introduce a potential automation programme to ensure productivity within the agro-food subsector, particularly among SMEs to remain consistent during the pandemic.

Director General of MPC, YBhg. Dato’ Abdul Latif Haji Abu Seman said, providing an effective strategy to maximise the productivity rate within the agro-food subsector will help the industry to sustain in future.

“Since the first Movement Control Order (MCO) was imposed in March 2020, there has been a reduction of at least 30% to 40% of both foreign and domestic workers due to zero replacements, making this a critical issue of future productivity for Cameron Highlands. Should this problem persist by 2025, it is predicted that it will produce a negative effect and will drag down the industry.

As a solution AFPN has taken the initiative to introduce a potential automation programme for the agro-food subsector. This programme includes a variety of technological solutions to aid majority of tasks needed to be done in the farming activities while combating the shortage of both foreign and local workers,” he said.

He added, AFPN will also organise a Hackathon two months from now, in collaboration with the other Productivity Nexus partners such as EEPN, Machinery & Equipment, Digital, and Chemical. The programme will also invite relevant parties to participate in this technological idea-storming event for generating solutions to aid the technological resource and implementation.

Meanwhile, according to Cameron Highlands Floriculturists Association Vice President, Wong Seng Yee, Cameron Highlands agriculture sector contributes 60% of vegetable supply within Peninsular Malaysia. It also includes 10,000 acres of vegetable planted land, 2,000 acres for flowers, and 4,000 acres for black tea.

“The integration of various disciplinaries knowledge such as software, hardware, life science will further enhance farm produce’s quality and productivity and reduce farm input cost and labour,” he said.

AFPN Champion, YBhg. Datuk Ar. Ezumi Harzani Ismail said by engaging with industry players and understand the resources they need, AFPN will provide the right and compatible technological solutions to reduce dependency on manpower.

“Further study is required to avoid mismatch and to close the gap between resources demanded by the industry and technological solutions offered to this subsector.  In addition, AFPN will also be using a ‘bottom-up’ approach where surveys and consultations will have to be conducted in collaboration with key industry players, universities, as well as target markets to ensure a wider and unbiased solution as it requires everyone to be involved with the final decision-making, therefore taking an inter-disciplinary approach as opposed to purely relying on any one source of technological solutions,” he said.

Champion of EEPN, YBhg. Dato’ Seri Wong Siew Hai said the effort will require close collaboration with universities and the industry to find a solution on the automation of agriculture to improve productivity and reduce the need of more labour, especially foreign workers.

This statement was issued by Agro-Food Productivity Nexus (AFPN) 

Source: Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Nur Fatimah Mohd Zaki
Email: nurfatimah@mpc.gov.my 

--BERNAMA