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KUALA LUMPUR – The Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry has agreed in principle for state governments to maintain the gazette on permanent food production parks, as well as to gazette those that have not been gazetted yet.
The ministry, in a statement issued today, said the matter was discussed at a meeting with respective state executive councils, which was chaired by Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee yesterday.
The meeting agreed in principle for the states to provide allocation for the production parks’ maintenance and to establish the District Agricultural Land Development Committee as a platform to facilitate the development of privately-owned land for agricultural purposes.
“It is a concerted effort to optimise existing and undeveloped agricultural land in increasing the country’s food production.
“This committee will be chaired by a district official and coordinated by the District and Land Office with members from various departments and agencies at the district level,” the statement said.
The decision, according to the statement, was in line with the ministry’s aspiration to strengthen synergy with state governments to guarantee the country’s food security.
Apart from that, the meeting also discussed the status of the country’s food security, which is projected to remain stable and sufficient, especially for eight main commodities – rice, chicken, beef/buffalo meat, eggs, fresh milk, fish, fruit and vegetables.
The meeting also discussed the direction of the decision made at the 139th Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers’ Meeting on the proposed synergy between the federal government and state governments to strengthen the country’s food security.
The Agriculture Ministry and the state governments, through strategic cooperation and continuous collaboration, will strengthen the agro-food sector and food supply security in line with the aspirations of the National Agro-Food Policy 2021-2030. – Bernama, September 21, 2022