Najib's short-sighted agro plan gives food for thought!


Mariam Mokhtar, Malaysia Chronicle

In the bio-fuel revolution, crops grown as biofuels for cars, rather than for food production will have an impact on local as well as world food supplies. Many will wonder if there were no plans to increase food production acreage because the land will instead be used for the production of crops to make bio-fuel.

Prime Minister Najib Razak said that he wanted to form alliances with other countries for food production. He said this arrangement would see Malaysia developing food production hubs in partner countries.

After launching the Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen's Day at the Malaysian Agro-Exposition Park, he said, “This will be more cost-effective than increasing food production acreage in Malaysia.”

“This is one of the initiatives that can ensure food security for Malaysia. We have taken steps towards this purpose and will continue to take steps to raise food production.”

But he declined to increase acreage for food production and said that it was more important to increase agricultural yields through the use of new seeds, technology and good infrastructure.

After the world food crisis of 2008, Malaysia took measures under its food supply guarantee policy to raise food production. As a result, Najib seemed confident that the government's agricultural measures would avert high market prices and food shortages.

Najib concluded by saying how natural disasters could affect food production: “With climate change becoming a global phenomenon, every country will feel its effects. What is important is how countries come together to tackle climate change.”

With the growth of the agriculture sector, RM10.1 billion was added to the country’s gross domestic production in the second quarter of this year which was an increase of 2.4 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

The agro-food sector contributed RM4.7 billion or 46.5 % while the planting, breeding and fisheries sub-sectors grew by 9.5 %, 13.9 % and 7.8 % respectively.

Najib was confident 1.5 million people would visit the exhibition in which 20 countries were showcasing their innovations and technologies. He hoped the event would boost the creativity and productivity of farmers and fishermen and later launched two new padi varieties which would give higher yields.

However, in the “food vs fuel” debate, many will wonder if there were no plans to increase food production acreage because the land will instead be used for the production of crops to make bio-fuel.

Will this entail removing virgin forests, strain local and regional water resources and cause deforestation and soil erosion?

As the demand for food crops to satisfy the bio-fuel production demand, might this raise the prices of staple food crops?

In the bio-fuel revolution, crops grown as biofuels for cars, rather than for food production will have an impact on local as well as world food supplies.

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