LAHAD DATU — Sabah has significant potential to expand its agri-food sector through agriculture, livestock farming, aquaculture and food processing, but realising this potential will require skilled workers, appropriate technology and stronger market linkages.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said the sector was crucial to strengthening food security, creating employment and generating income for local communities.
He said its development must align with the 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,” he said in a speech delivered by State Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk James Ratib at the launch of SEDIA AgroFoodPakar today.
The launch was held in conjunction with the 2026 MADANI Agro TVET Carnival at Palma Hall, Lahad Datu Vocational College (KVLD).
Hajiji, who is also Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) chairman, said the SEDIA AgroFoodPakar programme aimed to help 80 participants obtain a Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 3 qualification in eight agriculture and agri-food fields.
The qualification will be awarded through the Recognition of Prior Achievement (PPT) method, using the Practical Assessment (PPA) approach under the Department of Skills Development (JPK).
He said the programme, the first of its kind at KVLD, would be conducted over two days, compared with the conventional process, which could take up to 18 months. SEDIA will fully cover the participation costs.
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 SEDIA-KVLD collaboration also included the IPR-INTAN Ginger Cultivation Programme, supported by the Ministry of Economy, to strengthen local capabilities and unlock Sabah’s agri-food economic potential.
The programme aims to help 30 participants from the B40 income group, including students and parents, earn RM2,000 per month each. Every participant will receive 1,000 ginger seedlings to be cultivated on a three-acre site at KVLD.
“The programme is expected to provide practical experience in crop cultivation and farm management, while helping participants build an additional source of income with potential for growth,” he said.
He said the Coconut Tree Planting Programme was also being implemented on a 10-acre site at KVLD, involving the planting of 1,000 pandan and Tacunan coconut seedlings.
The initiative aims to strengthen cooperation between SEDIA and agricultural training institutions in Sabah, expose students to modern agricultural technologies and practices, and explore alternative income opportunities through coconut products and downstream processing.
“Under the theme ‘A Thousand Coconuts, One Legacy’, the initiative also aims to earn recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records in the category ‘Most Coconut Tree Seedlings Planted in an Event’.
“SEDIA and KVLD officers and staff jointly contributed 456 seedlings, with the remainder provided by SEDIA,” he said.
Hajiji said Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) played an important role in developing skills and creating pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.
He said valuable knowledge and competencies could be acquired not only through formal education but also through work experience, practical training and hands-on learning.
He expressed hope that the 2026 MADANI Agro TVET Carnival would bring together training institutions, industry players, government agencies and the community to share knowledge and explore partnerships under the theme “Empowering Agriculture, Advancing MADANI TVET”.
Hajiji said the SEDIA-KVLD partnership should continue with strong commitment to ensure that skills were recognised and applied, agricultural potential was developed more effectively, and training institutions continued to contribute to local talent development and economic growth.
