The Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) has announced their commitment to ensure no disturbance for National Food Security chain and it shall remain with adequate level.
Minister, Ronald Kiandee said they will continue to overcome the challenges to meet the national food supply through empowering the stable food chain, strategic partnerships with various sector to reduce the reliance on imported foods and foreign worker manpower.
“MAFI is taking serious measures to enhance the food availability, mainly in developing three focus areas, which is to keep the safe food at affordable price, preparing to face the food crisis, diversify domestic food production as well as sources of imports.”
“As of now basic food such as rice, meat, fish remains at the stable and adequate level” he added. The Ministry has also set up an agency to monitor progress.
“Through a joint effort with the private sector, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), academicians, and the state government, we can bridge the gap between the food industry and the industry players,” he said.
The Ministry is also looking to reduce the reliance on imported foods and foreign workers and empower the lives of local farmers, fishermen, livestock breeders to sustain the agriculture cycle.
“In line with the Prime Minister’s announcement, the fishermen’s subsistence allowance has also been increased from RM250 to RM300 a month which will benefit more than 40,000 fishermen, and the inland fishermen’s subsistence allowance has been increased from RM200 to RM250 which will benefit the registered fishermen,” he said.
Additionally, MAFI has outlined the National Food Security Action Plan under five pillars, namely to expand the use of technology, the development of research and study, upgrading the food security data, expansion of strategic collaboration, strengthening governance and agency departments.
More effort will also be given to boost the specialty agriculture such as paddy field, improved farming practices and more.
