Malaysia to adopt smart farming

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Malaysia plans to review its approach to agriculture by modernising the sector and adopting smart farming to boost farmers’ income and advance the sector.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Mustapa Mohamed said the sector remained important to the economy, even more so as the COVID-19 pandemic brought new perspectives on food security and jobs creation.

In the next three to four years, the government plans to transform the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) by diversifying the income streams of its settlers, which is currently dependent on oil palm and rubber planting, he said during a dialogue session with World Bank Group country manager for Malaysia, Firas Raad.

Citing an example, Mustapa said cattle breeding may be one of the potential areas to be considered.

Mustapa said Malaysia could be building an agriculture sector that is more responsive to the country’s contemporary food economy, including developing the capacity to supply more high-value foods that the region and Malaysia consume - including fragrant rice varieties.

Statistics show that as of 2019, agriculture accounted for about 11 percent of employment and 7.1 percent of Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP).

According to the WB’s representative, Malaysia’s economy is expected to grow by 6.7 percent in 2021./.