Kuala Lampur, June 1 -- Malaysia's agriculture sector faces a dual challenge: an ageing farming population and declining youth interest in agricultural careers. At the same time, there is a growing policy emphasis on food security, rural development, and youth entrepreneurship.

According to preliminary findings from the Department of Statistics Malaysia's Agriculture Census 2024, the largest segment of Malaysian farmers is aged 60 or older. The farmers' age profile reveals a concerning trend: 45.6 per cent are aged 60 or older, 32.3 per cent are aged 46 to 59, and only 22.2 per cent are aged 15 to 45.

Hence, the majority of senior citizens among individual farmers directly affect farm productivity and the nation's ability to increase do...