SELF-CULTIVATION SUGGESTION DOESN'T MEAN GOV'T LACKS FOOD SECURITY STRATEGIES - MOHAMAD

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) -- Encouraging the public to grow their own vegetables through the Kebuniti and Household Kitchen Garden programmes does not mean the government lacks strategies to address the country’s food security issues, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said.

He said such initiatives were part of a multi-layered approach implemented by the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) to improve the resilience of the country’s food supply in facing global uncertainties.

Citing Singapore and Japan as examples, Mohamad said both countries still prioritise urban farming and encourage self-cultivation as an additional safety layer for domestic production, despite land constraints and strong food policies.

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“Do they not understand food policy? Or do they fully understand that a culture of self-reliance is part of a national strategy? If there are those who see the small efforts of the public and KPKM officers as insignificant, that is their right,” he said in a Facebook post today.

He was commenting on a statement by an MP claiming that the self-cultivation proposal was unlikely to resolve food security issues because of its small scale and minimal impact on the country’s overall food supply.

Mohamad said the suggestion should not be belittled as it is implemented alongside various policy measures currently being taken by his ministry to address potential disruptions to the global supply chain following geopolitical conflicts in West Asia.

He pointed out that rising fuel prices due to the conflict could directly affect fishermen operating C2 and C3 category vessels, which do not receive diesel subsidies, while also increasing agri-food logistics costs that could put pressure on retail prices.

In addition, he noted that rising global urea prices could increase agricultural input costs, while supplies of grain corn and soybeans for animal feed still depend on external sources.

“This is the real reality of food security. It is linked to geopolitics, energy, agricultural inputs, logistics costs and international trade. That is why KPKM has already taken action,” he said.

He listed some initial measures implemented by his ministry, including increasing the rice buffer stock managed by Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS) from 200,000 metric tonnes to 300,000 metric tonnes, as well as engaging with PETRONAS to ensure sufficient urea supply at controlled prices.

Other measures include strengthening the Permanent Food Production Parks (TKPM), Permanent Ruminant Production Parks (TKPR), Aquaculture Industrial Zones (ZIA), Integrated Agricultural Development Areas (IADA) and farmers’ organisation programmes to boost domestic production.

For the long term, he said the ministry has outlined nine strategic directions, including the production of local grain corn, strengthening the ruminant and aquaculture industries, developing the Ayam Saga chicken breed and improving rice productivity.

“I assure that KPKM will continue to work, monitor geopolitical developments, stabilise supply, reduce import dependence and strengthen domestic production,” he added.

-- BERNAMA