MELAKA: Eyeing the rock melon (cantaloupe) market, the state of Melaka has launched a special training programme dubbed “Melon to Million” to get locals actively involved.
The B40 group, school leavers, skills certificate holders and job seekers can join the programme to learn about farm management and marketing strategies, mainly in the cultivation of cantaloupes
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the Melaka government was also targeting access to overseas emerging markets in the cantaloupe industry.
“This new initiative will also create business and job opportunities for locals,” he said yesterday.Ab Rauf, who attended the 2024 Malaysian Agriculture Horticulture and Agrotourism Show (Maha 2024) at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park in Serdang yesterday, said KMK Agro Global Sdn Bhd and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) have been entrusted with managing the programme.
He said cantaloupe farmers would also benefit by getting a professional certificate from an accredited body.
“The programme has received the backing of the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry as well as other related stakeholders,” he added.
It was earlier reported that the state government will collaborate with UPM to train 100 locals in the cantaloupe industry.
The training will be conducted in collaboration with cantaloupe entrepreneurs from Selangor and from the 100, the top 10 will be selected to become contract farmers to cultivate the fruit expansively.
Cantaloupes are said to be a good source of polyphenol antioxidants and vitamin C.
