The Malaysian Cabinet Ministers have adopted the 2021-2025 National Food Security Policy Action Plan (DSMN) as part of the country’s measures to enhance food security. The Cabinet meeting saw a briefing paper on the status of the implementation of the Large Scale Smart Padi Field Project (Smart SBB) which aims to achieve the 75% National Rice Self Sufficient Level (SSL) target as underlined under the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (12MP).
According to the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry, the Action Plan underscores the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s four aspects of food security, namely, availability; access; consumption; and stability and sustainability. Around 15 strategies and 96 initiatives will be implemented based on the framework, focusing on boosting access to safe food at affordable prices, increasing domestic food production, reducing food import reliance and the use of foreign manpower. The Ministry has highlighted five fundamental strategies which include the expansion in the use of technology, empowering of research and studies, empowerment of food security data, expansion of strategic collaborations, and strengthening the governance of departments and agencies.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who led the Cabinet meeting had agreed on the principle of the control measure and enforcement on the import and transit activities of animal products as well as a new mechanism to address the inadequate supply of onion and its price stability. Malaysia’s performance in the 2020 Global Food Security Index (GFSI) was also discussed to further strengthen the DSMN Action Plan.
(Sources: BERNAMA; Malay Mail)
