SEDIA and KVLD Ventures to Strengthen Agri-food Capacity

Sabah continues to empower youths in all economic sectors including in the agri-food sector through upskilling skilled workforce. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the sector is important for supporting food security, creating jobs and generating income for the community.

Hajiji was at Lahad Datu to launch Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA)’s AgroFoodPakar on 24th October 2026, held in conjunction with the 2026 MADANI Agro TVET Carnival at the Lahad Datu Vocational College (Karnival Agro TVET MADANI Kolej Vokasional Lahad Datu or KVLD), Palma Hall, Lahad Datu.

SEDIA AgroFoodPakar aims to recruit 80 participants to assist them earn a Malaysian Skills Certificate (Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia or SKM) Level 3 in eight agriculture and agri-food fields. The qualification will be awarded through the Recognition of Prior Achievement (Pengiktirafan Pencapaian Terdahulu or PPT) method using Practical Assessment (Penilaian Amali or PPA) under the Department of Skills Development (Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran JPK).

SEDIA will fund the two-day programme, covering eight fields including ruminant farm supervision, agricultural biotechnology laboratory operations, freshwater aquaculture supervision, poultry farm operations, plantation agricultural machinery, landscape construction supervision, crop production operations and food processing. SEDIA and KVLD also have joint venture in the IPR-INTAN Ginger Cultivation Programme, supported by the Ministry of Economy.

The programme aims to help 30 participants from the B40 income economic group, including students and parents, earn RM2,000 per person per month. Each participant will receive 1,000 ginger seedlings to plant on a three-acre site at KVLD. SEDIA and KVLD are also coordinating a Coconut Tree Planting Programme on a 10-acre site at KVLD, involving 1,000 pandan and Tacunan coconut seedlings.

The initiative aims to introduce to participants the modern agricultural technologies and practices and explore alternative income opportunities through coconut products and downstream processing. Hajiji who is Chairman of SEDIA said the agriculture sector’s development should align with SEDIA’s Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) Blueprint 2.0, which emphasises competitive, inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

“This direction must be translated into increased productivity, wider community participation in economic activities and responsible resource management in line with Sabah’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)’s theme “Empowering Agriculture, Advancing MADANI TVET,” Hajiji added.