VARIOUS incentives for hiring employees and training programmes through Biokerjaya @ My Future Agro have proven to develop groups of skilled employees and entrepreneurs in line with the needs of the agriculture- and food-related industries.
Agriculture and Food Industries Minister (MAFI) Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee explained that the availability of various skilled jobs through the programme opens up avenues for people to obtain a more stable income thus enabling them to invest in better food, health, and education.
“In the long run, the programme is capable of creating a skilled and experienced workforce which could ensure sufficient and quality food supply for the nation, especially during crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“Overall, this programme not only contributes to the nation’s food supply but also to the increase in productivity, economic performance, and shared prosperity.”
Biokerjaya @ My Future Agro, implemented by Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation), is among the programmes undertaken by MAFI which focuses on developing human capital to stimulate and protect the nation’s agrofood industry from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bioeconomy Corporation chief executive officer (CEO) Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak explained that the companies that collaborated in the Biokerjaya @ My Future Agro programme not only continued the recruitment of employees but also empowered their workforce by employing and providing training to the participants.
“With the availability of trained employees through the programme, companies will have a workforce with the right mindset, relevant knowledge, and skills which could assist companies to remain competitive and be ready to diversify their businesses especially during times of economic uncertainty,” he noted.
“As for the participants, this programme will enable them to learn practical skills and new work experiences in the fields of biotechnology, bio-based technology or agriculture technology which will enhance their marketability locally or in the international arena.
“This will directly encourage participants to become entrepreneurs or self-sustaining entrepreneurs while Bioeconomy Corporation will assist them for microcredit financing application when they complete the six-month programme.”
Through the Biokerjaya @ My Future Agro programme and other programmes under BioAcademy, Bioeconomy Corporation is committed to help companies to obtain local employees with potential especially among the younger generation and empower them to be technology-literate and innovative to fulfil market demands in the related industry.
Among the companies that participated in the programme is GK Aqua Sdn Bhd (GKA), which expanded its operations from a one-acre freshwater prawn hatchery to a six-acre facility at the end of 2019 which entailed an expansion in the workforce.
According to its CEO Giva Kuppusamy, the Biokerjaya @ My Future Agro programme had assisted his company to continue the intake of employees at the end of the six-month programme and the company was able to identify potential employees to be absorbed as permanent employees.
“This programme gave exposure to the employees to obtain skills and knowledge in an aquaculture work environment. This indirectly assessed the suitability of candidates to work in that environment.
“Other training which included communications, teamwork, and best aquaculture practices helped them to widen their knowledge of the aquaculture industry, thus enabling them to appreciate their jobs,” he said, adding that the company had applied for 16 employees under the programme.
Reszon Diagnostics International CEO Law Eng Lim noted that the programme enabled employers to obtain appropriate candidates at a lower cost.
“As a biotechnology company, this programme helped us in obtaining suitable talents in the relevant field and it also helped companies to expand again in the COVID-19 recovery period.
“Through the online job search system, it lessened our burden with the reduction in recruitment expenses compared to the traditional recruitment channels,” he said, explaining that currently there are 52 trainees in the company who are involved in the programme.
Until the end of 2021, a total of 2,958 jobseekers registered with the Biokerjaya @ My Future Agro portal, which is also an initiative through the Agrofood Workforce Mobility under PENJANA.
For further information about the programme, please visit https://biokerjaya.my/.
