However, its Minister...revealed that there are no specific financial allocation for jobless graduates provided directly by the Ministry interested to venture into such field.

"Only the departments and agencies under the Ministry have the allocations to give hands-on trainings and technical services to carry out agriculture projects," he added.

He was responding to questions raised by Bintulu Member of Parliament, Dato' Seri Tiong King Sing at the current parliamentary session.

Tiong had asked on the measures taken by the Ministry to lure unemployed graduates to be involved in modern agriculture and funds provided for those interested.

One of the measures taken were to highlight successes achieved by agriculture entrepreneurs through seminars, exhibitions and the media.

The Ministry also conducted talks and briefings for final year university students and unemployed graduate on business opportunities in the agriculture sector.

Short term trainings and counselling in agriculture and breeding practices, aquaculture production, fish and prawn fries breeding were also carried out by the departments of agriculture, veterinary service and fishery, as well as agriculture institutes nationwide.

Hands-on training were provided in food processing field for agriculture and fishery products at entrepreneurs guidance centres under the Ministry.

Opportunities were also made available for graduates to train at successful plantation companies and centres for repairing and maintenance of fishing vessels and equipment.

To strengthen training projects towards producing more calibre agriculture entrepreneurs, the Ministry had also proposed for bigger allocation under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Bank Pertanian Malaysia also offered a number of loan schemes that could be applied by jobless graduates to start agriculture or food processing projects.