Passport-free travel could boost food security

PASSPORT-FREE travel between Singapore and Johor, part of the initiatives under the proposed Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), would not only facilitate the flow of people and goods across the border but also has the potential to enhance food security for both countries.

Passport-free clearance could encourage cross-border investments in agriculture, which could strengthen the food supply chain’s resilience, leverage technology transfer and innovation in agriculture, boost food productivity, and diversify food sources.

Singapore’s advanced technological capabilities, such as vertical vegetable farms, digital agritech, closed containment fish farms and high-tech egg farms, can be leveraged to bring innovation to Malaysia’s agricultural sector. This has the potential to contribute to greater agricultural self-sufficiency, thus reducing reliance on food imports for both countries.

Malaysia can play a pivotal role by diversifying its traditional, large-scale farming practices to cultivate a variety of crops. This diversification effort will contribute to a more varied and resilient agricultural output for both nations.

Essentially, the passport-free clearance initiative acts as a stimulus for a mutually beneficial agricultural landscape, providing Malaysia and Singapore with an opportunity to strengthen their food security and develop as self-sufficient countries.

DR YOGEESWARI

SUBRAMANIAM

Faculty of Management

Universiti Teknologi

Malaysia