VENTURE TO AQUACULTURE INVESTMENT

MALAYSIAN FISHERMAN have been urged to venture into aquaculture because of significant drop in captured fisheries' resources which has increased demand for marine products. Government had put in place numerous conservation efforts and implemented certain policies to reduce over-fishing. Malaysia should have to move on to aquaculture. Reported in media only Penang has reached 50% aquaculture and 50% captured fisheries. As far as other states are concerned, they are way below the targeted 50% stage. They need to encourage more states to approve and take up temporary occupation licenses (TOL) for aquaculture. This is where the ministry is coming in to push more fishermen to venture into aquaculture industry. At present reported that Malaysia is one of the major producers of marine products and ranking 16th in the world in terms of fish caught from captured fisheries (1.47 million metric tonnes worth RM10.8 billion) and the 6th in Asean. Malaysia also ranks 15th and 6th in aquaculture production (427,022.66 metric tonnes worth RM3.041 billion) in the world and Asean respectively. The country's main marine commodity includes fresh and processed fish (freshwater fish 102,596.84 metric tonnes worth RM728 million), marine fish/prawn 121,460.24 metric tonnes worth RM2.268 million), seaweed products (202,965.58 metric tonnes worth RM44.7 million) and ornamental fish (281 million pieces worth RM283 million). This article in "Anim Agriculture Technology" blog I write about venture to aquaculture investment in Malaysia.

In other report shown that Penang had captured more than half of the market share in the RM3 billion aquaculture industry. In average Penang produced 47,742 metric tonnes of fishery products worth RM1.67 billion last year in which it was more than half of the country's overall total. However challenges such as Lekima typhoon which struck northern states few years ago had caused damage to the aquaculture industry with losses estimated to be over RM50 million. Some sustainable fisheries development has become increasingly important to ensure the availability of sufficient food supply at affordable prices. It is also an important generator of economic and social progress for the rural poor. In Malaysia reported various management strategies had been formulated and implemented to control fishing effort and promote sustainability and conservation of marine resources and ecosystems. To have full integration of aquatic resource management in Malaysia, the management and administration of marine parks which is one form of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) are being placed under the Department of Fisheries. To date, we have established several types of MPAs such as Marine Parks, Refugia and Conservation Zone. Other measures include restriction of fishing by licencing fishing gear and fishing vessels, identification of nursery areas that should be protected and managed to ensure the survival of juveniles of commercially important fish species, establishment of strict enforcement on regulations which address the issue of illegal fishing, rehabilitation of resources through the deployment of artificial reefs and coral rehabilitation programmes and conservation of the biodiversity of marine ecosystems. In many aspects of the fisheries industry need enhanced scientific knowledge and technological advancement to become a sustainable source of food and an income generator. In fact the proposed moving towards a sustainable future requires innovative thinking as well as global knowledge. Thanks...

By,

M Anem,

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

(Novemver 2024).

ISSUES OF AQUACULTURE IN MALAYSIA

AQUACULTURE is seen as a viable business in Malaysia to incentivise entrepreneurship among the population. If done on the right scale, aquaculture can be a powerful instrument to help the marginalised population steer out of poverty. Today fish harvested from the sea is also reported to be on the decline because of overfishing. Ocean pollution, especially uncontrollable plastic waste, has also contributed to the species disappearance. Not to mention their negative impact on food safety. This has given rise to the expansion of aquaculture to produce fish proteins, both marine and freshwater. Manya knows that either should we be worried about our intake of animal-sourced protein or should many continue to have a much greater consumption of fish than the world average (nearly three times the global mean of 20.3 kg per capita per year)? Reported that of the sharp drop in aquaculture production from 269,431 to 202,966 tons in recent 2 years. In 2019, Malaysia’s fisheries industry accounted for 1.1% of the global total with 0.4% coming from aquaculture. This increased the national agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 8.9% and generated 1.75 million jobs for Malaysians. According to the National Agro-Food Policy (NAFP) from 2011 to 2020, the aquaculture industry is marked as a high-value activity and is expected to grow by 8.6 percent over the nine-year period. This interview focuses on the struggles of the aquaculture industry in Malaysia and how they have caused a rapid decrease in production. This article inn "Anim Agriculture Technology" blog I share about five (5) challenges in aquaculture industry in Malaysia.

(1) COST ELASTICITY

Reported that farming shrimp and fish can be expensive, with production costs ranging between 30% to 40% for shrimp and 60 - 70 percent for fish, respectively. Farmers has the same cost structure with no one gains aas a competitive advantage. As a business normally this is an important concept to be aware of. In the real challenge lies in elasticity; understanding how flexible these costs can be and if they can offer an edge over others. If the prices of goods increase too rapidly so that the quantity sold will decrease. As an example a farmers reported in Johor claim that over the past 12 months he noticed that while their profit margin remained stable when the prices of crab or shrimp rose then they encountered a decrease in sales volume. The cost of the feed is largely determined by commodity prices in the market. More specifically where the feed meal prices (which vary by commodity) are an important factor in determining the profitability of farmers. As such, when the price of a commodity increases, a farmer may need to switch to another option in order to remain profitable. This could involve changing their feed meal supplier. The farmers unfortunately are usually unaware of the quality of feed meal that the suppliers produce. Thus, when they purchase feed with certain protein content written on its label, they only realize later that it is not as effective as it should be. This can happen due to the maybe replacement of raw materials which may depend on current commodity prices. The feed meal suppliers suggested a brand of feed they had, but when farmers bought and tried it, they weren’t pleased with the quality. This is the issue we’re faced with. Reported while some brands stay true to their promise of not changing the raw material for their product, this does not guarantee a steady price. It depends on if your business can absorb the volatility that comes with such commodities.

(2) ENVIROMENTAL POLLUTION
Reported that the brunt of the effects from industrialization are small landowners such as families who have passed down land for generations and are now sitting alongside a factory. The industrial waste has especially severe effects on fish for ‘kelong’ farms situated along the river. For example, grouper or sea bass business is located near a river contaminated by agricultural runoff, you have no choice but to put up with it. There is fact that that agricultural activities and the feeds used by farmers are usually obscured from view in which they still result in substantial amounts of environmental pollution. This largely goes unnoticed due to the lack of visibility. The way farmers in Malaysia act can have an effect on agricultural outcomes. They have a habit of not revealing their knowledge and strategies, perhaps out of pride or some other motive. This includes releasing water into the environment without anyone knowing. Due to their priority being the safety of the fish and they wanted to ensure that the water was clean before doing anything else. Thus, they changed the order of priorities. The importance of collective solidarity among farmers in order to be able to relay important news like a discharge rapidly. The lack of communication can have devastating consequences and as it is one of the main reasons for disease outbreaks. If one person does not communicate effectively with the others and it can lead to discharge of infected water which in turn can cause various problems for other farms. Therefore, it is essential to make sure that everyone remains up to date about any changes that may take place and collaborates when certain decisions are being taken.

(3) ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

Climate change has become harder to anticipate due to its unpredictable nature. What worries me more than pollution are the various environmental changes such as floods in which many cannot ultimately overcome. Reported that it is important to manage any risks associated with inclement weather. By taking the necessary precautions such as pumping water from the ground two days before a storm, one can prepare and make sure that any losses are minimized. Depending on the forecast, it may be necessary to have less on-hand stock to mitigate risk.

(4) LABOR SHORTAGES
The aquaculture sector in Malaysia is a small one with only around 10% of jobseekers possessing a Bachelor’s degree related to this field. As the industry has yet to evolve much, recent graduates face an uphill battle when seeking out such roles. The industry part of has rigid expectations and is slow to adapt. Farms remain traditional and outdated while many of the expectations from graduates tend to be very high. There is a need for the industry to evolve and pay attention to what the young generations desire. Instead of bemoaning the lack of quality personnel in aquaculture, it is better to incentivize potential workers to become a part of this industry and some changes must be made in this situation. Issues of for female candidates are rather when applications came in and those who were more qualified happened to be female. From there on out, we began hiring more female based on their strengths and what they could bring to the company. This is very for an encouraging and demonstrates the company’s commitment to providing equal opportunity for all. 

(5) LAND ACQUISITION COST

Isssues of land cost is the most significant issue facing aquaculture production and it far surpasses feed, labor, and pollution as key challenges.
In Malaysia the high land prices can often make it difficult to maximize returns on investment. To compensate, farmers may opt for practices that allow them to increase their yield with limited resources. This includes intensifying production using more efficient methods and even if the individual items are not worth as much. By intensifying the fish farming operation doesn’t come without its costs. The expenses will likely increase due to needing more oxygenation means higher feed conversion and other additional resources to support the extra fish. It results in a higher per-unit cost which drives up overall expenses. Reported that in some parts of the world, such as South America in which the land costs are much lower than other places. This means production costs can be lowered, and a less intensive approach can be taken, resulting in further cost savings. In Ecuador, a shrimp costs RM12 (US$2.70), whereas in Malaysia it costs RM25 (US5.60) and this is due to the cost of land. Many farmers try to use technology to compensate, but that is only important if all farmers competing. That means if farmers are all vying for Europe’s business and we are in a price competition. When considering domestic markets, cost structures are usually equal for all participants. This is true unless you own inexpensive land that was handed down to you. The opportunity cost must be taken into account as they can easily opt for renting it out instead. Reported that the aquaculture industry in Malaysia has been facing some of the difficulties in recent years and it leading to a sharp drop in its production. Several factors have been correlated with the declining trend and such as soaring land costs and also include environmental issues. To ensure the industry’s future success a stricter regulation and improved management practices also the introduction of sustainable aquaculture practices and the investment in research projects that aim to increase productivity must be implemented. Thanks...

By,

M Anem,

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

(October 2024).

Updated in November 2024.

NATURAL DISASTER VS AGRICULTURE IN MALAYSIA

NATURAL DISASTERS particularly floods and land sliding in Malaysia are frequently caused by climate changes. The impacts are also faced by farms and farmers in the form of production loss, farm infrastructure and even on the psychology of farmers. Consequently, the agricultural sector is becoming riskier which would affect the food security of the country. Current research was carried out to assess the level of impacts of natural disasters on farms and farmers in the last five years. The impact level was measured on the scale of low, medium, and high. The respondents were 360 farmers who were selected through one of the probability sampling techniques. The results revealed that climate changes in the form of natural disasters highly destroyed farm production, crashed irrigation and drainage facilities, and negatively affected emotions and psychology of farmers. The study recommends that various agricultural players such as public and private organizations, researchers, academia, students, and policy makers are required to ponder profoundly on the impacts level and formulate strategies to facilitate farmers and their farms. Keywords: agriculture, natural disasters, adaptation, climate change, Malaysia. This article in "Anim Agriculture Technology" I write about how natural disaster affect the agriculture produce in Malaysia as reported in media in 2024.

Media reported 'Northern floods impact 5,800 hectares of rice crops, cause RM32 million loss' in Nothern Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 5,822.59 hectares of rice crops in the northern states have been affected by flooding, with an estimated loss of RM32 million in rice yield. Agriculture and Food Security Minister said in view of this the ministry will provide post-disaster assistance to affected farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen, through a coordinated effort. Rice growers will receive aid via the Padi Crop Disaster Fund (TBTP), while the Agricultural Disaster Fund (TBP) will support those involved in agro-food activities other than rice cultivation. In addition to the assistance in which AgroBank has announced a moratorium on payments for its customers impacted by the current floods. The affected farmers, breeders, fishermen and entrepreneurs can apply for this relief at their nearest AgroBank branch. The ministry is also ready to mobilise assets to help rescue efforts during floods and if necessary with permission from the National Disaster Management Agency. The fact that in recent floods in Kedah and Perlis have impacted over 2,900 farmers and devastated nearly 6,000 hectares of padi fields under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada). The preliminary assessments put losses at about RM40 million to all agricultural activities. The floods was intensified by climate change, had struck unexpectedly early in the padi planting season, with heavier rain occurring over a shorter period. This year's floods were unexpected. Typically where the floods occur around October but this time but it happened in mid-September and causing padi crops that were ready to be harvested had to be submerged. At the peak of the floods on Sept 21 an area of 5,915 hectares of padi crops were affected, involving 2,928 farmers in Mada areas. The prime minister will also chair a meeting in November to discuss food security with the recent Kedah floods being a major topic of concern. The floods that hit the state this month affected over 8,400 people across seven districts during its peak, with many calling it the worst floods in 14 years. The ministry had requested RM400 million to be allocated through the 2025 Budget for basic infrastructure upgrades in non-Mada padi areas to tackle flood issues. The ministry also exploring padi farming projects in Sabah and Sarawak to ensure national food security, reducing reliance on Kedah as the country's main rice producer.

In other report stated that 'Floods: 30,000 tonnes of padi worth over RM50mil wiped out' where a farmer known as Yaakob Ahmad shows his paddy field that was damaged by floods in Kampung Alor Pudak, Kedah. Reported that last week's floods in the northern states last week have left the most devastating impact in recent times on the padi farming sector, with a staggering 30,000 metric tonnes of crop worth over RM50 million estimated to have been wiped out. The  National Padi Farmers Brotherhood Organisation (Pesawah) chairman Abdul Rashid Yob said the losses were estimated based on a Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) survey where over 5,900 hectares of padi fields under the agency's purview in Kedah and Perlis have been submerged by the floods. Mada oversees some 100,000 ha of padi fields and there are over 30,000 hectares more padi fields under other authorities such as Area Farmers' Organisation Authority (PPK) in Kedah and Perlis. The 30,000 metric tonnes of padi crop losses is a conservative estimate for now, as we believe that over 6,000 hectares of padi fields in the three states have been submerged by the floods. The over RM50 million losses are calculated based on today's padi purchasing price of RM1,800 per metric tonne by private padi millers and the average five metric tonnes padi yield per hectare. Last week's floods in the northern states last week have left the most devastating impact in recent times on the padi farming sector, with a staggering 30,000 metric tonnes of crop worth over RM50 million estimated to have been wiped out. He feared that the extent of damage to the padi crop could reach up to 7,000 hectares combined in the northern states, since farmers in Penang were also affected by the recent floods. This is by far the biggest blow to our padi farming sector and our food security since the 2005 and 2010 major floods. He added that last week's floods had such a devastating impact since most of the crop had been waiting to be harvested. The damage was not this extensive in 2005 and 2010 as the floods struck when the padi cultivation was in the early stage. This time around normally the floods hit when the crop was about to be harvested. As for Kedah Farmers' Organisation Authority (LPP) said 1,260 hectares of padi fields under the agency were affected by the floods. The damage was reported in 64 Farmers' Units across the state involving 853 farmers. LPP estimate the losses suffered by the farmers affected at RM11.34 million based on 6,300 metric tonnes of padi yield damaged by the floods and the current RM1,800 per metric tonne purchasing price by padi millers. About 19,611 farmers under the agency are cultivating over 34,000 hectares of padi fields in Kedah. Thanks,

By,

M Anem,

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

(October 2024).

CONSUMPTION OF EGG IN MALAYSIA

MALAYSIA RANKS 13TH IN THE WORLD when it comes to chicken egg consumption. According to the World Population Review website reported that Malaysia consumes 16.8kg of eggs (chicken) per capita annually. the report also notice that China and Japan record the highest consumption of eggs in the world. As Malaysian economies grow, Malaysian per capita income is likely to increase. From economics point of view, it is expected that better-off consumers will move to better quality of food attributes such as freshness, food safety, quality and healthfulness in their food intake. The preferences for eggs product and the technique was applied to establish the trade-offs that Malaysian consumers make between size, colour, size of packaging, functional attribute and price in the purchasing of eggs. A study reported that the results revealed that the ideal characteristic of egg was one with large size (grade A), omega eggs, brown, and ten per packs. It also found that consumers were also willing to pay more for their preferred attributes. According to other study reported that the egg consumption per capita before reached 17.2 kg in 2021 in Malaysia (Source: Faostat) in which this is 4.63% more than in the previous year. Historically the egg consumption per capita in Malaysia reached an all time high of 18.9 kg in 2017 and an all time low of 2.15 kg in 1961. Reported before that Malaysia has been ranked 6th within the group of 164 countries we follow in terms of egg consumption per capita. This article in "Anim Agriculture Technology" blog I share an informatioan about consumption of chicken egg in Malaysia.

I

n the mainstream media reported that 'Folk who lovws yolk: Malaysia ranks 13th in egg consumption worldwide' related to the consumption of chicken egg in Malaysia.  According to the World Population Review website, Malaysia consumes 16.8kg of eggs (chicken) per capita annually in which China and Japan record the highest consumption of eggs in the world. Japanese consume around 320 eggs every year or around an egg a day per person. Although Japan does not produce a lot of eggs, it is one of the largest importers of eggs and egg-based products. Eggs play an important role in Japanese cuisine such as ramen, rice and traditional pastries.  In China, eggs continue to be a popular choice of protein even though the country's economy is growing rapidly, as eggs are cheaper than other sources. The Chinese government always monitors egg production to ensure prices remain low so that all levels of society can access them at an affordable price. It is estimated that the people of China consumed more than 31,000,000 tonnes of eggs in 2021. Those in mainland China consume 21.97kg of eggs per capita annually. People in Hong Kong consume 26.19kg per capita while in Macau and it is 23.04kg per capita. Other countries that consume the most chicken eggs are Mexico (21.26kg per capita) and Japan (19.59kg). In the United States recorded high egg consumption but was not in the top position per capita. The report added that many countries use more eggs in their daily diet than the United States. Recently reported on Wednesday that Putrajaya may end the subsidy for grade A, B and C chicken eggs if the supply recovers and stabilises. Agriculture and Food Security Minister said this will save about RM100mil a month, which could be redirected to develop other critical agro-food sectors.

 

In other responds, the Malaysia government was prompted to lower the price of eggs as they are the most commonly consumed food by Malaysian families and especially lower-income households as sais by the Prime Minister. He said a study found that Malaysians can consume four eggs a day on average in which which was the reason for the government’s decision to use savings from subsidies to lower the price by three sen. He called the (egg producers) and asked them to lower their profits to help ease the people's burden. They did not ask them to run at a loss, just to lower their profits. He said if there are other ways to help with subsidies and saving money, I will make the effort. Reported earlier on Monday (June 17) that the retail price of Grade A, B and C eggs across the country was reduced by three sen as part of the clain to be the government’s new subsidy initiative. He noted that the subsidy would involve government expenditure of around RM100mil, covering up to 10 sen per egg. Reported that the retail prices for eggs in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan will be adjusted according to the respective zones and districts, he added. Thanks.

By,

M Anem,

Melaka,

Malaysia.

(October 2024).

ALIEN FISH RUNNING RIOT IN LOCAL RIVERS

A REPORT ABOUT 'Alien fish running riot in local rivers' in Malaysia are fair to share with all readern in this blog. The above photo showing that a Piranhas as an African catfish, garfish, pirarucu, peacock bass, Chao Phraya high fin giant catfish and tilapia in which all these are all food fish in their countries of origin and are found in abundance in rivers, lakes and swamps, or bred in ponds in aquaculture projects. Most of these fish species thrive in rivers and lakes many times bigger and deeper than the longest river in Malaysia. Reported that in their natural environment all these fishes grow to monstrous sizes. All the fish mentioned above are carnivorous and predatory, including the tilapia which is an invasive species. The local media reported that any minnow or fish that fits in their mouths will become prey and their voracious appetite helps them to grow to enormous sizes as said Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) ichthyologist Dr Amirrudin Ahmad. These fish are native to the Amazon River (6,992km-long), Nile (6,893km), Congo (4,700km) and Mekong (4,350km). In comparison, Malaysia’s longest river known as Sungai Rajang in Sarawak is just 563km long while Sungai Kinabatangan ists length of 560km and lastly Sungai Pahang with total length of 459km. This article in "Anim Agriculture Technology" blog rewrite a report from few local media regarding the existence of alien fish in Malaysian water.

Reported that the short span and narrow width of our rivers make it easy for predatory fishes to hunt for smaller fish like Ikan Lampam, Ikan Kelah, Ikan Sebarau, Ikan Kaloi, Species of snakeheads (Haruan, Toman and Bujuk), as well as the smaller Malaysian Clarias species (catfish) as claim by Amirrudin (see photo above of local catfish). He said with the existence of these predatory fishes in local rivers and the proliferation over the years, it would not be long before indigenous species became depleted, or in the worst-case scenario to extinct. Although there are no records on when these fishes were released into the rivers, it is believed that some of these predators have been set free by hobbyists since the late 1980s. After such a long period, there is concern over the loss of aquatic biodiversity due to the introduction of these predatory and invasive species. A good example is the invasion of the red claw crayfish in Johor rivers. Actually stretegies as a STRICT SUPERVISION NEEDED in which as more of these predatory and invasive species being landed by anglers, it speaks volumes on the declining in the population of indigenous species. The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS) needs to tighten its procedure and supervision of live fish imports. Equally important, the live fish traders must be more responsible by providing the list of their imported fish to the Fisheries Department. The next step is honesty in declaring the imported fish as true to the invoice.

The Fisheries Department and Maqis can also deter the import of banned species by explaining the laws and the penalties to importers. They should not entertain “I don’t know” excuses to escape punishment. Amirrudin said fisheries inspectors must be well-informed about banned species and able to identify the fish at first glance and at its juvenile stage. Today the local fish shops and hobbyists also must be educated on the latest prohibitions. Local fish shops especially must be required to display the list of banned fish at their outlets. A hotline or toll-free telephone number to the Fisheries Department should be displayed as big as the ‘No Smoking’ signage in the shops to allow the public to report sales of banned species. He said fish farms must not be allowed to breed certain species, especially breeders who grew the fish in cages along rivers and in lakes, because most of the catfish species from the Amazon rivers in which for example it could grow to monstrous sizes. In some years, we hear reports of fish cages being damaged and African catfish escaping into the rivers in Terengganu, Pahang and Perak. Unless a foolproof method is found, these fish should be bred in ponds. Similarly many anglers share the same responsibility. Any predatory foreign species caught must not be released back into the river. Predatory fish such as Ikan Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas), Species such as Alligator Gar (Lepisosteus), Peacock Bass, Chao Phraya high fin giant catfish (Pangasius sanitwongsei) and Red Tail Catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) have been reeled in by anglers in most major rivers in the country. When such fish snaps up the baits from rods and lines, it reflects a horrifying reality that the population in these rivers have grown. And the sizes of the peacock bass, red tail catfish and Chao Phraya high fin catfish which look like the local patin, commonly indicate that these predators have been in the rivers for more than two years. Religious and cultural releases (bayar nazar) of African catfish, which can grow to an enormous size, by the community should be replaced with the release of indigenous species such as lampam, baung, kelah or the smaller local catfish. The Fisheries Department should conduct a careful study on whether a fish species is safe for the biodiversity before introducing it for economic purpose. A question on what use is development and intense food production if they cause the extinction of natural assets?. When the natural resources are damaged by aquaculture or development, it can only be called destructive. State terengganu Fisheries Department director Zawawi Ali said hobbyists generally dumped predatory fishes into rivers when their pets could no longer fit into their tanks or when they lost interest in the hobby. Feeding big fish is costly. This may also be another reason they have to dispose of their pets,” he said, adding that the problem would arise when hobbyists imported predatory fish species without verifying with the department whether the species was banned. Thanks.

By,

M Anem,

Agronomist Expert,

Melaka,

Malaysia.

(September 2024).

11 October 2024

MY BIRTHDAY....

END OF SEED AND FERTILZER CARTEL

Latest news about END OF SEED AND FERTILZER CARTEL was urged by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today as the seed and fertiliser monopoly held by cartels must come to an end in order to improve the country’s productivity in the agricultural sector. He said we can no longer allow seed and fertiliser monopolies to dominate the industry as he said in his speech when opening of the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (Maha) 0n 14 September 2024. A firm stance is needed, and the (agriculture and food security) ministry must act decisively to curb cartels that control the import of fertilisers and seeds he adding that political will is also important. He then called for new practices to prioritise selecting quality products based on research and evidence, and ensuring the best outcomes for farmers, fishermen and smallholders. Malaysian current government is now practising this new approach in which he expressed confidence that Malaysia’s agricultural landscape would see significant progress over the next two years, crediting the agriculture and food security ministry’s efforts. PM hope every agricultural agency will take this as a challenge because it can happen. Take lessons from how Qatar and Russia improved their agricultural productivity. Anwar added that Malaysia’s agricultural sector must adopt artificial intelligence (AI) technology to boost its productivity.  He had seen firsthand how AI can increase output. However, it requires a shift in practices and mindset within the local industry adding that government machinery must also function as an integrated ecosystem to drive improvements in productivity. In this article of "Anim Agriculture Technology" I like to share current news during MAHA Exibition Opening Ceremony recently.

Prime Minister also spoke of several mega projects being planned in the agricultural sector, including the first phase of a large-scale padi cultivation initiative, with a total project value of RM5 billion. He told reporter who is also finance minister said the project aims to boost padi yields and improve the livelihoods of local farmers. The ministry is focusing on increasing the nation’s rice production. This is crucial for enhancing the welfare of our farmers and ensuring food security. PM emphasized the need for all ministries and agencies to work as a cohesive team to ensure the nation’s food production targets were met. PM also acknowledged the challenge of rallying farmers, rice growers and fishermen to embrace these changes and adapt to the upcoming transformation in the agricultural sector. The key challenge is how to engage the farming communities, especially the padi planters and fishermen, to embrace this transformation and significantly increase their yields. Reported in May 2024 PM Anwar announced the government would increase its funding to upgrade irrigation systems in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) region to implement a five-season padi planting project within two years. The expansion of the programme will cover an additional 30,000 hectares of land in Mada areas, which will be developed in stages. Ministry of Ahriculture told that the agricultural products contributed 10.9% to the country’s gross domestic product in the first quarter of the year 2024. Mistry told this growth came from three key sub-sectors that was agriculture (3.1%), manufacturing (2.2%) and services (5.6%) respectively.

Many media said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that cartel practices in Malaysia’s agriculture sector must and will be stopped. He said the outdated system of importing seeds through cartels and monopolies must end without delay, and future decisions must be data-driven while prioritising the welfare of farmers, fishermen, and smallholders. He told to guarantee productivity, the entire ecosystem must be streamlined, especially with the involvement of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) and other relevant ministries. Seeds and fertilisers can no longer be controlled by cartels and monopolies like before. That is why it is essential to have a minister and a secretary-general who are firm in ensuring that the old cartel practices in fertiliser importation are completely eliminatedas he said when officiating the opening of the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agrotourism Exhibition (Maha) 2024 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park today.Also present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu, and his deputy Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup. Anwar said the food sector is a crucial pillar that the country must develop and focus on. Therefore, he stressed the importance of creating a holistic and sustainable ecosystem, rather than relying solely on the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama). Fama is a cornerstone and its performance has improved significantly. That is why I stress that the ecosystem must be functioning effectively. The Agriculture Ministry is a large and strategically important ministry for our country. Thanks.

By,

M Anem,

Senior Agronomist,

Melaka,

Malaysia.

(September 2024).

CROP INSURANCE - STATUS IN MALAYSIA

HOW IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE crop insurance scheme in Malaysia. Actually, reported that the Malaysian government will soon be offering crop insurance policies to compensate farmers for losses incurred as a result of natural disasters. This initiative is part of the government's efforts to enhance food security. According to the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030 (NAP 2.0) is formulated with the vision of developing a sustainable, resilient, and high-technology agrofood sector in efforts to drive economic growth, enhance the well-being of the people, and prioritize food and nutrition security. Following the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA) and the Livestock Price Reinsurance Agreement (LPRA) are cooperative financial assistance agreements between the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) and an insurance company. Started in Mac 2024 the takaful scheme is a long-term measure to assist farmers suffering losses caused by plant diseases and pest attacks. It was reported that the takaful scheme offers a higher amount of compensation of up to RM3,000 per hectare per season compared to RM1,800 per hectare per season under TBTP. As the development of the rice industry requires the formulation of a new policy involving six aspects, including providing subsidies for padi cultivation based on productivity rather than on the basis of rice field area. This latest article in "Anim Agriculture Technology" blog I share my knowledge about crop insurance implementation status in Malaysia.

According to my contacts at Universiti Putra Malaysia's agricultural economics expert known as Prof Datuk Dr. M Nasir Shamsudin, suggested that the government should consider floating the price of local white rice, implementing targeted rice subsidies, introducing crop insurance and early warning systems, and adopting a flexible floor price based on the Producer Price Index (PPI). He said that these six policy changes, with the integration of technology and the determination of farmer-entrepreneurs, have the potential to transform the landscape of the country's rice industry development to achieve a 100 per cent self-sufficiency level (SSL). Today our production policies need to be rationalised. Subsidies for padi cultivation, such as fertilisers and seeds, should be implemented based on productivity to further enhance the motivation of farmers in increasing their respective outputs. The government is currently practising price ceilings and floor price for rice...the retail price of local rice should be floated according to market prices. When it was floated, the government should implement targeted subsidies for rice to the B40 group, using methods such as cash transfers credited to their identification cards for rice purchases. The government should focus on developing the rice industry in the country to make it a profitable industry resulting in the country to be more self-reliant. Today the floor price for padi is currently set at RM1,200 per metric tonne, and it should ideally be "linked" to the Producer Price Index (PPI) to align with the increase in input costs. This is because many farmers incur increased input costs such as fertilisers but the floor price remains the same.

Media reported that in the next 2024 Budget presentation very soon that many party hope that the government can introduce crop insurance to ensure that farmers are not adversely affected in the event of incidents that damage crops that was similar to what exists in the United States. However to start with that the implementation of crop insurance could possibly be offered by government agencies such as the Farmers' Organisation Authority or Agrobank. The government also needs to establish an early warning system that can predict our rice production for a specific period to ensure our supply is always sufficient. According to an expert from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's agricultural expert known as Dr. Noraziyah Abd Aziz Shamsudin that she suggested the government could explore the potential of cultivating rice to five times over in two years by ensuring the use of more early-maturing varieties to strengthen the domestic rice industry. That its impact on soil quality needs to be emphasised, along with addressing issues related to machinery that may damage soil structure, its effects on water quality, the health of farmers, and the use of agricultural chemical inputs. An idea of the development of more new rice varieties especially those that are early-maturing and resistant to abiotic stress factors such as drought, floods, heat, salinity and biotic stress factors like pests and diseases. This can be achieved by providing specific research funding to rice researchers, particularly those specialising in breeding and agronomy. Suggested also the government recommend several rice varieties based on the suitability of the rice planting location, which is beneficial for adjusting fertiliser requirements to minimise input. There should campaign to encourage farmers to plant a particular variety for a maximum of three seasons and then switch to another variety. They can return to the previous variety after a few seasons to reduce disease and pest attacks. Proposal of  the establishment of special areas for low-input and sustainable rice production systems can also be implemented.

Thanks.

By,

M Anem,

Senior Agronomist Expert,

Melaka,

Malaysia.

(September 2024).