Kota Kinabalu: The Government aspires to transform Malaysia into a major food exporting nation, thereby reinforcing the country’s position in terms of food security.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said this aspiration also marks a notable shift in the country’s agricultural policy and strategy that could have profound impacts on the economy and international trade relations.
“The Government now aims to make the agriculture sector a primary driver of our national economy.
“This aspiration calls for a transformation of our agriculture sector into a competitive, resilient and technologically advanced industry,” he said at the closing ceremony of the 2023 Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen Convention (HPPNS) here Thursday.
His speech was read by Assistant Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Hendrus Anding.
Dr Jeffrey, who is also the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister, said there is an urgent need for food security and resilience, particularly highlighted by the recent challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Ensuring a stable and resilient food supply chain has become paramount. We are committed to maintaining the country’s food supply,” he said.
“We are taking definitive steps to boost domestic production, expand the use of modern technology, reduce our import dependency, and improve quality,” he added.
On the use of technology and modernisation in the agriculture industry, Dr Jeffrey urged the importance of keeping pace with the Industrial Revolution 4.0.
“Adoption of modern technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), digitisation, mechanisation, and automation will propel the agri-food sector into a dimension that is more competitive, effective, and efficient,” he said.
This vision, he said, aligns with Sabah’s development objectives to create a commercial and competitive agriculture sector that contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and export income.
“This endeavour will spawn more job opportunities, guarantee a stable food source for our citizens, and bolster the resilience of our national food security,” he said.
He urged the farming, livestock and fishing communities, particularly the youth, to support this transformation by adopting modern farming practices and market-oriented agricultural methods.
