Kota Kinabalu: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (MAFS) will re-develop the agro-food database for the country.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the Ministry is looking for a system developer that can provide the best and reasonably priced service to set up the database.
“Previously, we have such database but it went dormant…and now we think it (database) is something that is much needed,” he said after officiating Agrobank’s mobile bank, here, Thursday.
He said the Ministry will try to set up the database soon as possible while noting that it will take some time to find the right service provider.
Mohammad had previously stated that in the long run, the Ministry needs a database that provides real-time information on the types of vegetable planted, the production volume, production location, import and export volume, demand volume and the production cost.
“Through this system, the Ministry will make projection and early preparation to face any possibility,” he said in a Facebook post, recently.
For instance, he said, if the Ministry projected that there will be a cucumber supply shortage in the next three months, it can instruct its agencies to intensify the planting of cucumbers this week.
“I am sure there are many youths who can create such a database system.
“The Ministry is willing to provide the needed funds for them to develop this system for the good of all.”
He posted the statement on Facebook after several states reported shortages of several types of vegetables following continuous heavy rains and floods that affected vegetable farms.
Meanwhile, he said Agrobank is providing two mobile banks to benefit the people in Lahad Datu, Tawau and Beaufort.
“Through this initiative, residents in rural areas can enjoy more systematic basic banking services such as ATM withdrawals and deposits as well as consultation services for products offered by Agrobank,” he said.
In the current banking landscape, he said innovation in basic banking services is critical to further accelerate the economic impact in rural areas.
“Agrobank’s focus on providing access to basic banking services to underserved communities is in line with its mandate as a development financial institution (DFI) in achieving the aspirations of ‘Malaysia Madani’.”
Citing Felda Sahabat in Lahad Datu, he said the mobile bank initiative is timely as residents there have to travel 73.8 kilometres to the nearest town to get access to banking facilities.
“As such, the initiative is very important to facilitate their daily affairs,” he said.
Also present were Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Chan Foong Hin, Agrobank Chairman Datuk Yunos Abd Ghani, and Agrobank President/Chief Executive Officer Datuk Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin, among others.
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