KUALA LUMPUR – Entrepreneurs involved in vegetable production have been urged to use pesticide-free modern agricultural technology to produce products that are safe to eat.
Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said the country’s vegetable production industry needed to move towards modern technology-based agriculture to reduce production costs.
“The young generation of agriculture industry entrepreneurs need to deepen their technology-based agriculture knowledge so that the country’s agricultural sector is more modern which can reduce dependence on other countries,” he told reporters today.
Ronald was met after witnessing the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between a local company ABS Greentech Sdn Bhd and four international agro-technology companies namely Lentiz Education Group, Priva Horticulture, Powerplants Australia and Rijk Zwaan.
He said through the MoU the four international agricultural industry players would share their experience and approaches in developing and encouraging the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for the sustainability of agricultural systems and technologies.
“Through this cooperation, entrepreneurs especially young farmers will be given short courses in crop management especially involving the use of the latest technology in agronomic activities (practices to improve soil quality, enhance water usage, manage crops, improve the environment) and pest management programmes that are more environmentally friendly, economical and safe for our biodiversity,” he said.
Ronal said he was optimistic that the expertise and technology introduced via the cooperation would encourage innovations in the country’s agricultural sector, and improve the quality and productivity of agricultural products thus creating new market opportunities.
