OCTOBER 2 — When we talk about agriculture, many people still imagine paddy fields, farms, hoes, and working under the hot sun. However, agriculture today has changed significantly. It is no longer simply about producing food. It is increasingly becoming a business sector that combines technology, innovation, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
The question is: should we continue to see farmers merely as agricultural producers? Or is it time to see them as agropreneurs—entrepreneurs who are capable of creating value from agricultural products?
This is the mindset that needs to be developed, particularly among the younger generation.
The agri-food sector offers significant opportunities for exploration. The Department of Agriculture, through the Young Agropreneur Programme, for example, focuses on encouraging youth participation in crop production, livestock, fisheries, agro-based industries, and marketing. The programme also provides support through incentives, financing, training, and technical advisory services.
