On being food efficient
Malaysians can learn from Manickavasagam
MALAYSIA was, at one time, an agricultural nation. But the decision to shift the nation’s focus from primary to export-oriented industries saw agriculture eventually being left on the wayside, somewhat. As a result, food security suffered. The United Nations defines food security as people having physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs. Malaysia ranks 40th out of 113 countries in the Global Food Security Index, while Singapore, which has no agriculture industry to speak of, topped the rankings.
For a former agricultural nation known for rice-growing, it is a shame that Malaysia now imports between 30 and 40 per cent of its rice from Vietnam. According to recent research, roughly half of all the land set aside for padi fields are not being utilised, even though the government has departments to help look after various sectors in the agriculture industry and guarantees high payments for each yield. What’s more, almost 100 per cent of raw materials for animal feed has to be imported. These materials include fish meal, soybean meal and corn meal.
In order for us to ensure food security, or at least improve current levels, the government needs to put more focus on agriculture. This is even more so now with the World Health Organisation and World Trade Organisation warning of a possible food crisis thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is in this regard that people like P. Manickavasagam should be praised. The private college manager has branched out into farming, growing cantaloupes, or rock melons, on the rooftop of Plaza Sri Muda in Shah Alam, Selangor. Manickavasagam has technical experience and this, coupled with knowledge gleaned from the Agriculture Department, put him in good stead to reap upwards of RM7,000 per harvest of the cantaloupes, which take 75 days to mature.
Food security is an important aspect of economic recovery, and in Malaysia, it is a common problem among the low-income households. The key challenge for food security is to achieve selfsufficiency levels in most of the food requirements and to reduce dependency on food imports. Hence, Manickavasagam’s venture into growing his own produce to be food efficient, not to mention earn a little money on the side.
We know that in March, the unemployment rate increased to 3.9 per cent, or roughly 610,000, because most economic sectors had shut down during the Movement Control Order and many businesses had to shutter. By year end, this could increase to 5.5 per cent. Youth unemployment stood at 11.67 per cent last year, and with 300,000 to 350,000 graduates annually, this will only get higher. Perhaps this is the best time for the government to encourage people to get into the agricultural or food production sector.
Manickavasagam may be 60, but young Malaysians can learn from him. We don’t even have to grow our own produce for sale, only what we need as that alone will help with expenses and food security. Of course, doing things on a larger scale, for sale to wholesalers and supermarkets like our man from Shah Alam does, will help greatly in making Malaysia become food sufficient. The media, too, must play its part. News organisations should consistently highlight such efforts, to show youngsters the possibilities that lie before them.
Food security is an important aspect of economic recovery...