KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s agro-food sector could be expanded with a skilled workforce, appropriate technology and strong links with markets, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said agriculture, livestock farming, aquaculture and food processing were crucial to the state’s food security, job creation and income generation.
He said the sector’s development must align with the Sabah Development Corridor Blueprint 2.0, which emphasises competitive, inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
“This direction must translate into increased productivity, wider community participation in economic activities and responsible resource management,” he said at the launch of Sedia AgroFoodPakar, held in conjunction with the 2026 Madani Agro TVET Carnival at Lahad Datu Vocational College (KVLD) yesterday.
His speech was delivered by state Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk James Ratib.
Hajiji, who is also Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia) chairman, said the programme aimed to help 80 participants obtain a Malaysian Skills Certificate Level 3 qualification in eight agriculture and agri-food fields.
The certification will be awarded through the Recognition of Prior Achievement method, using Practical Assessment under the Department of Skills Development.
He said the programme, the first of its kind at KVLD, would be conducted over two days, compared with the conventional route, which could take up to 18 months.
Participation costs will be fully covered by Sedia.
The eight fields are 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.
Hajiji said the collaboration between Sedia and the college also included a ginger cultivation programme, aimed to help participants from the B40 income group.
