Agrobank Empowers B40 and Asnaf Youth in Sabah Through Young Graduate Agropreneur Development Programme (PROBEST)

SABAH, 26 JULY 2024 – Agrobank strengthens its commitment to empower youth communities, especially the B40 and asnaf groups, through the Young Graduate Agropreneur Development Program (PROBEST). PROBEST is a synergistic collaboration between Agrobank and participating universities, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM). Today’s program, involving Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), marks the seventh PROBEST event.

PROBEST focuses on industries contributing to the food chain, including agriculture, fisheries and livestock. The participation period is one year. During the first six months, participants will undergo technical and entrepreneurial guidance sessions, including sales and marketing knowledge from leading companies. In the subsequent six months, their entrepreneurship activities will be monitored to ensure continuous improvement and support.

According to President/Chief Executive Officer of Agrobank Dato’ Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin, “The structured community development program is designed for university youths, especially the B40 and asnaf. Through the income generated, they can improve their livelihoods, elevate socio-economic status and break the cycle of poverty. Participants will be provided with a RM500 monthly allowance for the first six months. Agrobank aims for their additional income to increase to RM1800 to RM2500 through their own sales and to leading companies for each season, which is six months.”

“The agricultural sector is the backbone of our country’s economy, and it offers a range of job opportunities that young people are unaware of. Therefore, youth participation in the agricultural sector should be empowered because they are the key to steering the future of our country. PROBEST is a testament to our commitment to cultivating a prosperous agriculture sector through youth participation.”

“Agrobank has funded an overall cost of RM2.576 million for PROBEST. A total of 96 students from local universities are involved in PROBEST, including students from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Teknologi Mara, Jasin (UiTM), Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), Universiti Malaysia Sabah dan Kolej Vokasional Pasir Puteh, Kelantan.”

The Young Graduate Agropreneur Development Programme (PROBEST) was officiated by the Deputy Prime Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Arthur Jospeh Kurup. According to him, “The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has implemented a variety of programmes, including the Young Agropreneur Programme which was introduced in 2016, specifically to help and encourage the participation of youth in the agricultural sector. As of July 2024, a total of 9,529 young agropreneurs have received grant approvals amounting to RM174.16 million in goods. Out of this total, 745 individuals from Sabah have received young agropreneurs grants worth RM12.19 million.”

Through this entrepreneurship program, Agrobank hopes to change the perception among youths to view the agricultural sector as a branch of employment capable of generating lucrative returns while boosting the national economy through primary sector contributions.