Factors in high price of food

OF late, Malaysians have been complaining about the exorbitant price of food, which is the most important component of their household expenditure.

Why is food so expensive in Malaysia? The main reason is our low food production. Out of the eight million hectares of agricultural land available, six million are planted with oil palm and one million with rubber. Less than one million hectares or just 12% of agricultural land is used for food production. This has resulted in Malaysian consumers depending on imported food.