TANAH MERAH, July 22 — The government will continue to reduce dependence on imported food to ensure the country’s food production is balanced, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
He said the effort will continue in line with the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030 (NAP 2.0) to improve incomes and quality of life for food producers.
“The supply of eggs in our country is recovering and we are addressing the rice supply as exporting countries such as India and Vietnam have reduced their exports to accommodate the needs of their people.
“The government is providing infrastructure such as irrigation systems and roads in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) worth RM3 billion to ensure the success of five rice planting seasons in two years on a large scale in the country,” he said.
He told reporters after visiting the Group Maize Farming Project in Kampung Paloh here today, which was also attended by Kelantan Agriculture Department director Norbahani Zakaria.
Elaborating on the programme, Mohamad said the maize-planting project in Kampung Paloh, which covers an area of 32ha, started in 2007 through the establishment of a cooperative by cultivating various types of crops such as maize, long bean, pumpkin and various types of yam.
“This group project received full guidance from the Kelantan Agriculture Department and received allocations amounting to RM201,245 since 2014 from incentives for area preparation, irrigation systems and agricultural inputs.
“The Agriculture Department also conducts monitoring, including in terms of advisory services related to diseases and pests,” he said.
Maize grower Noraini Mat Nor, 54, said the government’s move to reduce dependence on imported food supplies from foreign countries should be done to provide employment opportunities to the people in addition to increasing their economic income.
“I am grateful for the efforts made by the government because it will provide employment opportunities for the local population, especially the young people, to venture into the field of agriculture such as corn, watermelon and more,” he said.
Rice farmer Rosli Abd Ghani, 62, said the government needs to focus on ensuring the irrigation and infrastructure in rice fields throughout the country are consistently improved and maintained.
— Bernama
