IPOH – The country’s agrofood sector growth is positive despite facing uncertain global and domestic markets, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the contribution of the agrofood sector to the gross domestic product in 2022 is significant, totalling RM173.9 billion or 11.5%.
“The value add covers output of agrofood in the agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors,” he said when launching National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen Day (HPPNK) 2023 at Dataran Bulatan Sultan Azlan Shah, Meru Raya here today.
The text of his speech was read by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who officiated the ceremony on behalf of Anwar.
Also present was Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
However, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said dependence on imported food is high surpassing RM75.5 billion last year, which is a challenge that should be dealt with to raise the country’s food security level.
He said the trend also showed an increasing trade deficit in the agrofood sector in the last three years.
Therefore, he said the potential of the agrofood sector should be expanded as one of the main contributors to the national economy.
“The focus of the Madani government now is on the right track to boost and empower the agrofood sector,” he said.
Anwar said food security was also given special focus in the Madani Budget 2024, which is a reflection of efforts to intensify the survival of the country’s agrofood industry to increase local food production and reduce import dependency.
He said various efforts were implemented to provide inclusive incentives to the country’s food producers, including raising the rate of the Padi Price Subsidy Scheme from RM360 to RM500 per tonne.
“Increasing the purchase floor price of padi from RM1,200 to RM1,300 per tonne as well as starting a five-season padi planting pilot within two years,” he said.
Anwar said the government also continues to provide a living allowance of up to RM300 a month and a Fisherman’s Catch Incentive of up to RM1,000 a month and maintained the diesel subsidy at the lowest price of RM1.65 per litre for a certain class of fishermen with a quota of 840 million litres a year.
He further said that through the Food Security Strengthening Programme, an allocation of RM400 million gives special focus to increasing local food production, which is still dependent on imported sources.
In the meantime, Anwar said HPPNK is a special programme held biennially to celebrate farmers, breeders and fishermen in this country.
“The event, among other things, is a manifestation of the government’s appreciation of the contribution of food producers, despite being affected by various challenges in the agrofood sector at the global and local level such as extreme weather due to climate change, the global geopolitical crisis, the increase in the cost of agricultural inputs, especially fertilizer and insecticide,” he said.
HPPNK 2023 is being held for three days starting today with the theme “Food Security for the Future”, coinciding with the aspiration to focus on the application of technology, innovation and modernisation of the agricultural sector in line with the National AgroFood Policy 2021-2030. – Bernama, November 11, 2023
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