KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is undertaking a structural recalibration in its economic direction where the greater focus will be given to enhance the agriculture sector while maintaining the momentum in the industrial growth sector.
Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the agriculture sector is going to be very important in the country’s effort to launch the Malaysian economy to the next level.
“Generally, the number of poverty cases is higher in states whose economies are driven by agricultural activities.
“Therefore, it is imperative that the government correct the imbalance in wealth distribution and reduce the disparity between income classes, ethnic groups, territories and supply chain,” he said.
Mohamed Azmin made these remarks at the ‘Environmental Stewardship In Addressing Poverty to Achieve Sustainable Development For All’ panel discussion, on the sidelines of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at New York on Sept 26.
He said as a start, Malaysia needs to deepen its research and development into mixed farming so that the agriculture sector does not entirely rely on rubber and palm oil produce but instead would devote a portion of lands into the production of cash crops such as vegetables, fruits, and flowers that are in demand globally.
At present, Malaysia’s food import bill in 2018 stands at more than RM50 billion and is growing year by year.
Crops such as bananas, coconuts, chillies, corn, ginger and mushroom are examples of crops that Malaysia is currently importing and could certainly be replaced with local production in its farms.
He said farmers with two or three acres of land were not able to make enough money to earn a living, hence the new approach would amalgamate smaller farms to be managed efficiently, and thus generating higher income for the farmers.
Mohamed Azmin also highlighted the enhancement of the agriculture sector through smart farming which is in line with the fourth Industrial Revolution.
As such, the minister said the adoption of current technology involving artificial intelligence, automation, big data analytics, drones and robotic would provide a solid foundation for precision agriculture.
“This necessitates developing high-skill human capital such as farm managers that are professionally certified and able to maximise production as well as manage the farms efficiently.
“This also creates new high-income jobs that are crucial in uplifting the socio-economic conditions of the agriculture workforce as one of the measures to increase their purchasing power,” he said.
The minister in the same remarks also assured that similar approach would be taken in all areas of the economy, complemented by strengthening the fundamentals of Malaysia’s economy as it is remaining steadfast to achieve sustainable development for all in addressing poverty. – Bernama
