Farm-to-fork drive for agro sector
PM: Food supply chain to be developed
SERDANG: The agriculture sector will be developed more extensively so that it can become a new source of wealth for the country, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Agriculture and Agro-based Ministry has been given the task of developing a food supply chain under the “farm-to-fork” concept, said the Prime Minister.
The supply chain will start at farms and then to finished products sold at restaurants, cafes, food trucks, drive-throughs and online food-ordering businesses, he said.
In addition, the ministry will coordinate with other ministries and agencies, including Felda and Felcra, to set up large-scale food production centres nationwide under a National Food Warehouse initiative.
“We need to change our mindset, from seeing the agriculture sector as one that only provides minimum incomes to one that can generate high incomes for our farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen,” Najib said when launching National Farmers, Livestock Breeders and Fishermen Day and the Malaysia Food Festival 2017.
The event, organised by the ministry, goes on till Sunday at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park.
Najib said the agriculture sector contributed RM89.3bil, or 8.1%, of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year. The agrofood sector, meanwhile, was responsible for RM36.5bil, or 3.3% of GDP.
He said Malaysia is now 100% self-sufficient for eggs and 70% self-sufficient for fish, fruit and rice.
As such, the country needs to raise production further to ensure food security for the nation and access new markets in other countries.
Najib cited the booming durian industry as an example of the possible growth in agriculture. He said that with Malaysia’s durians now finding new export markets, such as China, prices have gone up as high as RM100 per kg for the musang king variety, earning lucrative profits for farmers.
“I would like to inform you that I am the one responsible for asking China to accept our durian exports when I went to the country and met with their top leaders,” he said.
Najib said the sector also needs investments and good infrastructure, such as the upcoming East Coast Rail Link, which will help producers transport their goods.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the country’s one million farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen, describing them as “unsung heroes who contribute much to the country’s development”.
Najib also announced a RM7mil government allocation for livestock breeders and fishermen’s associations.
Each association will get to use RM30,000 to strengthen themselves.