ERA OF AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN MALAYSIA
Agriculture development in Malaysia is classified into 3
separate eras.
1. The early years (1960's-70's)
·
Smallholdings not more than
5 hectares (rubber, oil palm, fruits, paddy).
·
Own by inherited.
·
Colonials are the owners of
larger rubber and oil palm plantations.
2. The awakening decades (1970's-80's)
·
Some Bumiputra who migrated
into a new agricultural land by government.
·
Indians remain as estate
worker while Chinese remain as middleman.
3. The small dragon era (1980's and beyond)
- Agro-based changing to
economy.
- Formation of IOI (former
Dunlop), Guthries, Sime Darby and Harrison and Crossfield. (now Golden Hope).
- Nation industrialization
have been catalyzed by revenue earned from new found black gold petroleum
NATIONAL AGRICULTURE POLICY (NAP)
The Malaysian National Agricultural Policy (NAP) is advanced
through 3 key stages, with the formulation of 3 different policies, namely, NAP
1, NAP 2 and NAP 3.
NAP 1
Open on exports crop, in particular oil palm and cocoa in
order to increase foreign exchange. this era is the rapid expansion of
manufacturing sector.
NAP 2
A greater emphasis on sustainable agriculture, expanding
food product, agro-based industrial development and greater role of private
sector, biodiversity and conservation. WTO was established.
NAP 3
Formulation of new policies and strategies which is
agroforestry approach in which agriculture are viewed as integrated entity and
the product-based approach.
NEW AGRICULTURE SECTORS
1) Fisheries involving coastal riverine and deep sea fishing
activities have commenced, with new new fishing harbours in Penang and Sarawak
opened.
2) Aquaculture activities in inland water bodies have
increased with cultivation of commercial species. Mariculture has also expanded
in islands such as Langkawi. Recreational fisheries and ornamental fisheries
are new business ventures.
3) Tourism industry
has been given a new lease of life in the form of agrotourism involving tours
to forests, nature reserves, farms and homestays.
HOW TO ENHANCE FOOD SECURITY??
Enhancing Food Security and Combating Inflation
The financial crisis has highlighted the urgent need to
enhance food security through expansion in domestic food production and lesser
dependence on imports. This import substitution measure focuses on
establishment of integrated cluster of production, processing, marketing and
supporting services industry.
a) Domestic food production will be enhanced through:
i. Focusing production on major food products that are cost
competitive such as fishery products, selected fruits, vegetables and
livestock.
ii. Zoning for food production areas.
iii. Provision of infrastructure.
iv. Promoting R & D and good agricultural practices
(GAP).
v. To increase yield and efficiency.
vi. Establishing stronger linkages between the producers and
the market.
b) Strategic sourcing of essential food products will
be undertaken through:
i. Facilitating joint venture with low-cost countries, for
example in the ASEAN Growth Areas and Mekong River Basin.
ii. Government to government arrangement on supply of food
to the country.
c) Improving marketing efficiency through reduction
of marketing margins and removal of imperfections by:
i. Reducing market intermediaries with direct marketing and
contract farming.
ii. Improving marketing infrastructure such as collection
centres and wholesale markets in production areas.
iii. Improving market intelligence.
d) Increasing Productivity
Productivity gains in agriculture have not matched up with
increases in wages; for example in the early and mid-90s productivity increased
by 4.5% per annum while farm wages increased by 49%.
Reducing labor in agriculture
a) Cultivation of new crops that require less labor.
b) Promotion of controlled environment, automated and
mechanized system.
c) Intensification of research and development in labor
saving technologies in harvesting and tapping.
Maximizing land resource use by:
a) Promoting agro-forestry enterprises.
b) Integrating livestock with plantation crop.
c) Promoting large-scale, technology-intensive,
mixed-farming ventures.
Increasing farm income
a) Value added activities at farm level through large scale
commercial farming.
b) Maximizing utilization of agricultural wastes and
by-products.
Promoting private sector participation
a) Establishment of agro-technology parks.
b) Establishment of incubation centers.
c) Providing private sector investment in agriculture.
Enhancing agricultural export
a) International halal food hub.
b) Malaysia as a major regional distribution center.
c) Malaysian own brand products.
Human resource development
a) Efforts to focus on
producing more skilled workers in various fields.
EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
- Education
- Research and development
institutions
a) Public sector
b) Private sector
c) Non-government organization
d) Extension services
LEGISLATION, POLICIES AND STANDARDS
1. Legislation and
policies.
2. Standards.
ECONOMIC
TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM (ETP)
·
- To turn Malaysia to high income economy by 2020.
- ·
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National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) have been identified to boost
Malaysian economy, two of which include agriculture and oil palm
ENTRY
POINT PROJECT (EPP) UNDER NKEA AGRICULTURE
- High value herbal products.
- Edible bird's nest swiflet farming.
- Seaweed farming in Sabah
- Integrated cage aquaculture system.
- Rearing cattle in oil palm estates.
- Premium fruits and vegetables.
- Developing market community.
- Replicating zone for aquaculture model
to tap market for premium shrimp.
- Food Park.
- Introducing fragrant rice varieties
for non-irrigated areas.
- Strengthening productivity
of paddy farming in MADA.
- Scaling up and
strengthening of paddy farming in other irrigated areas.
- Expansion of cattle in
feedlots.
- Dairy clusters.
- Seed industry development.
- Overseas acquisition/joint
venture of cattle farms.
- Market community (PAKAR).
