Govt to introduce targeted urban agriculture programme

 

The government will introduce a targeted urban agriculture programme in a shift towards increasing the country’s agricultural output.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the success of urban farming programmes in neighbouring Singapore should be explored and emulated for implementation in areas with limited land in urban and suburban areas, starting with Kuala Lumpur.

He said the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, other ministries and agencies involved have been given a month to submit suitable plans for the programme.

“In addition to continuing our existing efforts in agriculture, we also need to focus on urban agriculture, particularly involving the urban poor.

“I have also asked the ministers (involved) to look into this matter including providing special additional allocations in this field to enhance agricultural activities in urban areas,” he said during the Malaysia Madani dialogue session at the Central Zone Madani Rakyat Programme held at the Kuala Selangor Sports Complex yesterday.

Emergency food supply stock

Meanwhile, on food security in Selangor, Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said the food supply stock in the state is expected to be sufficient for at least three months in the event of a disaster including the dry season.

MB Amirudin Shari

He said the store for food supply stock, being built in the north of Selangor, is expected to be used to store carbohydrate and protein-based food such as rice and chicken.

“InsyaAllah, upon completion of this project, Selangor will have food security for up to three months. This means if there is war and rice cannot be imported and so on, we will still have food supplies.

“Selangor will be the only state that will have food security for three months,” he said when met after opening the Madani Cheapest Sale Expo in Tanjong Karang yesterday.

The three-month security supply of food stock is relevant for Selangor considering the state’s population of about 7 million people, he added.

Merging programmes

In a related development, Amirudin said that the state government is working towards integrating its Jualan Ehsan Rakyat (JER) initiative designed to alleviate financial burden, with the Madani Cheapest Sales.

This integration aims to offer additional advantages to the public, enabling them to shop more affordably, similar to the JER initiative carried out through collaboration with the Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Ministry.

“I will engage in discussions with the National Action Council on Cost of Living and the Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation to explore a more effective approach,” he stated.

- Bernama