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KUALA LUMPUR: The Covid-19 crisis has demonstrated the multi-faceted and interconnected nature of the food system, highlighting the need to think about food security and agri-food policy in broader terms, said Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ronald Kiandee.
“The Covid-19 crisis has served to highlight the importance of the agricultural and food sectors, and although Malaysia has not been among the most affected countries and the worst scenarios have not been met, the loss of household income and the Responding to uncertainty has created volatility in food markets.
“By strengthening its agri-food system, Malaysia will also be in a better position to pursue other national priorities, including the Vision of Shared Prosperity,” he said during his special introductory speech at the launch of Malaysia Economic Monitor: Sowing the Seeds, organized by World Bank. Malaysia, here today.
Ronald said that by introducing measures designed to improve farmers’ incomes, create farm jobs and increase agricultural exports, agriculture in Malaysia could become a more powerful engine for shared prosperity through better distribution and equitable growth in different levels.
He said Malaysia has great under-exploited potential to meet the varied demands of a modern agri-food economy, both nationally and regionally.
“The Twelfth Malaysia Plan (12MP) is an opportunity for Malaysia to clearly expose the potential of the agricultural sector and the role of government in facilitating its transformation … the plan, which is being finalized and will be presented next year, will provide Malaysia You not only have the opportunity to maintain your current level of commitment, but also to redouble your faith in the potential of the agricultural and food economy.
Ronald said the 12MP could also be used as a roadmap to develop a modern peri-urban agricultural sector connected to urban markets with advanced logistics.
He added that Malaysia could also position itself to lead the supply of “healthy and safe” products to the region and have more investment in human capital that will be needed to transform Malaysia’s agri-food complex.
“This includes training and attracting the next generation of agri-food system entrepreneurs in a wide variety of disciplines,” he said, adding that as of 2019, agriculture accounted for about 11 percent of employment and 7.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) of Malaysia.
On another note, Ronald said the ministry welcomes the publication of the latest edition of the World Bank’s Malaysia Economic Monitor, Sowing the Seeds, which takes a closer look at how Malaysia’s agricultural sector can facilitate the country’s economic growth after of Covid-19. .
“The analysis and policy recommendations presented in this report would provide useful feedback for the government to formulate its strategy for Malaysia’s food security and increase its productivity to increase income, which would contribute to Malaysia’s vision of shared prosperity. .
“Looking ahead, the ministry looks forward to closer collaboration with the World Bank Group’s Center for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Finance in Kuala Lumpur,” he said. – Called
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