Malaysia must speed up agricultural modernisation to strengthen food security, says Mat Sabu

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu emphasised the need for Malaysia to expedite the modernisation of its agricultural sector to bolster food security. He highlighted that countries like Brazil, which had significantly boosted their agricultural output, particularly corn, through a market guarantee system rather than relying solely on subsidies, can serve as a model for Malaysia.

Unlike traditional subsidy-based approaches, Brazil guarantees to purchase unsold produce, motivating farmers to increase their output. During a meeting with his Brazilian counterpart, Mohamad explained how this system encourages farmers to work harder, knowing the government will purchase unsold produce.

In a discussion at the Malaysia Madani Intellectual Forum Series 14, Minister Sabu also addressed the RM2.6 billion in subsidies allocated for local paddy production. While acknowledging some progress in improving paddy yields, he stressed the importance of continued support and encouragement for paddy farmers to accelerate the shift towards modernisation.

For other food commodities, Malaysia has achieved self-sufficiency in fish and domestic chicken and egg production, reducing dependence on imports. The ministry is promoting grain corn cultivation and expanding onion cultivation, with targets to meet 30 per cent of domestic demand for corn by 2030 and improve onion yields.

Strengthening links between agricultural research institutions and universities, as well as with farmers, is paramount, Mohamad stressed, drawing parallels with Thailand. He urged the public to prepare for possible cyberwarfare threats that could disrupt food supply chains, as some European countries have already experienced disruptions and food inflation.

Although basic food supplies are currently sufficient, with rice buffer stocks for at least six months and fish supplies for eight months, the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) is ready to manage physical food distribution in the event of digital system disruptions.

In response to weather-related challenges, Mohamad urged farmers to follow planting schedules to manage water resources efficiently, especially in light of the El Nino phenomenon expected to bring extreme temperatures. The ministry is closely monitoring forecasts from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) and taking scientific advisories into account to ensure food security.