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“We can no longer allow seed and fertiliser monopolies to dominate the industry,” he said in his speech when opening of the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (Maha) today.
“A firm stance is needed, and the (agriculture and food security) ministry must act decisively to curb cartels that control the import of fertilisers and seeds,” he said, adding that political will is also important.
He then called for new practices to prioritise selecting quality products based on research and evidence, and ensuring the best outcomes for farmers, fishermen and smallholders.
“Our government is now practising this new approach,” he added.
Anwar expressed confidence that Malaysia’s agricultural landscape would see significant progress over the next two years, crediting the agriculture and food security ministry’s efforts under the leadership of Mohamad Sabu.
“I hope every agricultural agency will take this as a challenge because it can happen. Take lessons from how Qatar and Russia improved their agricultural productivity.”
Anwar added that Malaysia’s agricultural sector must adopt artificial intelligence (AI) technology to boost its productivity.
“I’ve seen firsthand how AI can increase output. However, it requires a shift in practices and mindset within the local industry,” he said, adding that government machinery must also function as an integrated ecosystem to drive improvements in productivity.
Anwar also spoke of several mega projects being planned in the agricultural sector, including the first phase of a large-scale padi cultivation initiative, with a total project value of RM5 billion.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the project aims to boost padi yields and improve the livelihoods of local farmers.
“The ministry is focussing on increasing the nation’s rice production. This is crucial for enhancing the welfare of our farmers and ensuring food security.”
Anwar emphasised the need for all ministries and agencies to work as a cohesive team to ensure the nation’s food production targets were met.
He also acknowledged the challenge of rallying farmers, rice growers and fishermen to embrace these changes and adapt to the upcoming transformation in the agricultural sector.
“The key challenge is how to engage the farming communities, especially the padi planters and fishermen, to embrace this transformation and significantly increase their yields,” he said.
In May, Anwar announced the government would increase its funding to upgrade irrigation systems in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) region to implement a five-season padi planting project within two years.
The expansion of the programme will cover an additional 30,000 hectares of land in Mada areas, which will be developed in stages.
In a separate speech, Mohamad said agricultural products contributed 10.9% to the country’s gross domestic product in the first quarter of the year.
He said this growth came from three key sub-sectors — agriculture (3.1%), manufacturing (2.2%) and services (5.6%).
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