Redesign the Food Security System?

The new Minister of Agriculture and Food Security has been tasked to ensure food availability and reduce cost of living on food items. His priority should be to devise strategies to counter the rising cost of living, including:

1. Persuading State governments to identify suitable land available for vegetable and fruit cultivation, poultry farms and aquaculture;

2. Establish comprehensive proposals to develop the food sector, taking into consideration local and national needs;

3. Reintroduce the Green Book Plan (2.0)  to make Malaysia self-sufficient in food production through subsidies;

4. Encourage a community-based approach towards planting vegetables and fruit in residential areas. Identify the areas, especially under high-tension grid lines, and request Tenaga Nasional to give approval for residential farming;

5. Encourage residents with landed property to grow vegetables and fruit in any small space inside and outside their respective dwellings

6. Encourage residents’ associations to initiate projects for residents to plant vegetables and fruit in vacant spaces;

7. Provide expert advice to people engaged in food cultivation and in developing poultry farms;

8. Offer attractive financial incentives to farmers through BNM and Agro Bank;

9. Develop vertical farming or urban farming (examine how Singapore does it); and

10. Learn from the Danish experience (in the food sector).

We have neglected the food sector for too long. It has taken a “pause” because of our quest for industrialisation and the development of the services sector. Now we must return to the food sector.

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Denmark, with almost six million people, produces enough food for five times its population! The Danish food ecosystem incorporates R&D, integrated farming, manufacturing and the development of food cooperatives. We can learn valuable lessons from Denmark’s universities and research institutes involved in innovation in food production and technology.

Malaysia should reduce its food import bill of RM60bn and take immediate action to boost the local food sector.

We must aim to be a major exporter and global player in food products. Why? Because food production is a recession-proof sector. As the global population increases, the demand for food products will rise and the nation will earn much-needed foreign exchange. We could do this if we take a professional approach and place emphasis on R&D, logistics, marketing and distribution. Then we don’t have to depend on Thailand or Indonesia.

Reference:

10 ways Anwar can boost Malaysia’s food security, Benedict Lopez, ALIRAN, 4 Dec