Give incentives to young farmers, says Malim Nawar youth assembly rep

Wong says idle state land should be leased to young farmers. — Filepic

MALIM Nawar near Kampar has ample idle land suitable for agriculture, says a Perak Youth Assembly representative.

Perak Youth Assembly Malim Nawar representative Wong Chin Ho said the state government should consider leasing the land to youths to encourage their involvement in agriculture.

“The state can build the constituency as a centre for agricultural production.

“Idle state land, belonging to the State Agriculture Development Corporation (SADC) or State Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), can be leased to young farmers,” he said in his speech when debating a motion titled “Lifting the Food Industry, Plantation and Agriculture Sector Especially For Youth in Perak” during the state Youth Assembly sitting in Ipoh.

“It will create more opportunities for youths while mobilising them to help address the recent hike in vegetable and meat prices.

“This will also help reduce the unemployment rate,” he added.

Wong said there should be some form of incentive to attract youths to get involved in agriculture.

“They should be given priority when considering applications for idle land.

“I also hope the state considers giving youths a special lease rate to work on the lands,” he said.

Wong dded that special lease rates and grants should be extended to joint venture projects initiated between youths of various races that reflect the Malaysian Family concept.

“Land and district offices, including the SADC and SEDC, should hold dialogues with representatives from the Youth Assembly to intensify efforts to get youths to farm idle land,” he said, adding that a special secretariat, comprising these government agencies should be set up to achieve this.

Youth representatives, he added, could be allocated funds to conduct empowerment programmes in their respective areas.

“Perhaps, the state can consider looking into setting aside between 5% and 10% of a state assemblyman’s allocation to be used by youth representatives.

“This will not add to the state’s financial burden but will enhance cooperation between youth representatives and their respective assemblymen,” he said.