Answer for Oral Question PL306

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Md. Salleh bin Haji Othman

YANG BERHORMAT AWANG HAJI MOHD. SALLEH BIN HAJI OTHMAN asked the MENTERI EKONOMI, PERDAGANGAN DAN INDUSTRI to state the Government’s strategies and targets to increase the country’s self-sufficiency level in local fruit production through the use of modern agricultural technology, while reducing dependence on imports and strengthening the country’s food security?

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Ekonomi, Perdagangan dan Industri

There are 4 strategies implemented by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry through the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood to increase the country’s self-sufficiency level in local fruit production through:

1. The use of technologies such as fertigation systems, protected houses, automated irrigation and precision agriculture practices;

2. The production of new seedlings and the implementation of R&D at Birau Agricultural Station to produce high-quality and high-value fruit seedlings. The current focus is on producing local fruit seedlings such as Durian Tembaga, Durian Siunggong, Durian Kuning, various rambutan, duku, mangosteen and other seedlings;

3. To further encourage more entrepreneurs to cultivate fruit in the country, the ministry is currently focusing not only on the domestic market but also exploring international/export markets; and

4. Providing pilot schemes for local fruit farms; for example, the farms at KKP Merangking began producing fruit last year.