Answer for Written Question PT021

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Awang Lau How Teck

YANG BERHORMAT AWANG LAU HOW TECK asked the MENTERI SUMBER-SUMBER UTAMA DAN PELANCONGAN to state how to balance the national food security objective with the need for profitability among agricultural operators. What performance indicators are used to ensure that agricultural policies do not create prolonged dependence on government support?

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Sumber-Sumber Utama dan Pelancongan

In ensuring a balance between the national food security objective and the need for profitability among agricultural operators, the Ministry’s approach is to emphasise increased productivity, cost efficiency and the development of a commercially viable agricultural industry.

This approach is important to ensure that local food production not only contributes to the security of the nation’s food supply, but at the same time provides sustainable economic returns to agricultural operators.

In this regard, the agricultural sector development policy is not solely focused on Government support, but rather on efforts to strengthen the production capacity and competitiveness of the industry, including through the use of modern technology, research and innovation, as well as the development of commercial-scale farms capable of achieving economies of scale.

In addition, the strengthening of marketing aspects and access to markets is also given attention to ensure that local agricultural produce has stable and competitive market channels. Operators who have achieved high production levels are also encouraged to explore export markets as a step towards expanding income opportunities.

To assess the effectiveness of this policy and ensure that the agricultural sector does not remain dependent on Government support over the long term, several key performance indicators are used.

These include the Tahap Sara Diri (Self-Sufficiency Ratio), which measures the capacity of local production to meet domestic demand through local production without relying on imports, as well as productivity per hectare, which indicates the level of efficiency in land use and the use of technology to increase agricultural output.

In addition, an increase in the net income of agricultural operators is also an important indicator in assessing the extent to which this industry is able to operate sustainably and resiliently without relying entirely on government assistance.

Through this approach, the Ministry aims to develop an agricultural sector that not only contributes to national food security, but is also able to grow as a viable and competitive industry that provides continuous economic returns to local operators.