KUALA LUMPUR: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry is committed to addressing structural challenges in the agricultural sector through supply chain optimisation and the empowerment of healthy food producers, says minister Mohamad Sabu.
He said the move aims not only to meet current food needs but also to ensure sustainable food production without compromising the interests of future generations.
“To achieve true resilience, the ministry is focusing on efficient and productive agriculture as well as a sustainable agro-food system,” he told Bernama.
The ministry wants local producers to take pride in their products by adopting modern agricultural practices, better water management and innovative technologies to increase yields, he said.
He said the ministry’s long-term vision is to transform the national food system into a more efficient, resilient, sustainable and inclusive ecosystem by 2030 through the National Food Security Policy 2030.
The policy shifts the country from conventional methods to a holistic approach that links food security with environmental sustainability, socio-economic justice and public health.
“Our goal is to ensure a continuous supply of sufficient, safe and nutritious food to face global market dynamics and external uncertainties,” he said.
Under the Madani Economic Framework, Mohamad said the ministry is prioritising structural reforms to transform the agri-food sector into a modern, resilient and high-value system.
He said the ministry is focusing on three key strategies: increasing production, strengthening supply security, and improving the food supply chain.
Among the measures implemented are smart agriculture and the use of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, as well as intensifying padi cultivation, including implementing five planting seasons within two years in suitable areas.
To strengthen supply security, the ministry is protecting the National Food Resource Area from land conversion and developing strategies to address the impact of climate change on the agro-food sector.
It is also improving integrated marketing infrastructure, developing price and supply databases, and enforcing laws to curb price manipulation in the food supply chain.
