Malaysians consume almost RM3.2bil worth of imported vegetables

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians consume almost RM3.2bil worth of imported vegetables and fruits a year even though homegrown supplies are at a self-sufficient level. 

"We imported RM884mil worth of tropical vegetables and fruits and RM2.34bil worth of vegetables and fruits from countries with temperate climates," said Deputy agriculture and agro-based industry minister Datuk Tajudin Abdul Rahman in Dewan Rakyat on Monday.

He said this was done despite the nation being at a safe and secure level with regard to homegrown agriculture produce.

"Although we continue to import vegetables and fruits, we are 89.9% self sufficient," he added. 

Tajudin ackowledged that the country is forced to import certain vegetables such as large onions from China, dry chillies from India and sawi from Indonesia.

"These vegetables cannot be grown locally due to soil condition and climate," he said.

He was answering a question raised by Datuk Hajah Norah Abd Rahman (BN-Tanjung Manis) concerning Malaysia's reliance on imported vegetables.

To further boost cultivation of local vegetables, Tajudin said the Government is looking at utilising some 120,000ha of idle land for the purpose.

He said the idle land was identified in a recent survey, which belonged to the respective state governments and private individuals.

On a separate matter, Tajudin urged Sarawakians fishermen to use the new Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) Fisheries Complex being built at Kampung Tanjung Bako, Tanjung Manis.

He chided the Opposition for claiming that the RM300mil complex was a white elephant.