PUTRAJAYA (ANN/THE STAR) – Malaysia’s Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has announced plans to establish a Farmers Registration Enactment, aimed at streamlining the distribution of aid to farmers and aiding the government in strategic agricultural and agrofood planning.
The decision to draft this enactment was reached during a meeting chaired by Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, with state executive councillors overseeing agriculture in agreement.
“With the enactment in place, there will be a database to record and register farmers in Malaysia,” the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
“It will also ensure that incentives the government provides will reach the target group and avoid leakage in extending assistance to farmers,” it added.
However, the ministry did not specify when the enactment would be ready.
The meeting was also presented with a proposal to set up dedicated areas for organic farming at state level.
“The proposal for the creation of such an area is in line with the National Agrofood Policy and the National Food Security Action Plan.
“Under the two plans, it is stated that organic farming is one of the activities to be given focus in tackling global challenges whereby environment-friendly approaches to agriculture are to be adopted,” the ministry added.
The meeting also included a briefing on plans to strengthen poultry farming through guidelines that had been prepared by the Town and Country Planning Department.
“The ministry has also brought forward a proposal to include China prawn net traps (bubu naga) among equipment that is not allowed to be used for fishing activities.
“This is due to complaints by licensed fishermen who claimed their fishing nets get damaged after getting entangled with these bubu naga,” the statement added.
The meeting was also presented with a paper on the Young Agropreneur Programme, an initiative to encourage and help young people get involved in the agrofood sector.
