Agriculture & Agro-based Industries - World Report

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8Does the country have enough mechanism to enforce environmentalpolicy?YB DATUK SERI HAJI: As agriculture is an important sector that contributes tothe Malaysian economy, we need to develop our agricultural sector in asustainable manner. In terms of policy, Malaysia has a comprehensive NationalAgricultural Policy, which we are now in the process of strengthening andreviewing. In our current agriculture policy, resources – particularly land, waterand agricultural inputs – must be managed and utilised in a sustainable manner.To achieve this objective, several regulations have been enacted to ensure thatactivities in the agricultural sector will be sustainable to minimise the negativeimpact on the environment. For example, we have a regulation that agricultureactivities cannot be done on slopes more 25º. We also have verycomprehensive regulation on the usage of pesticides and other chemicals.We are also developing green technology to be utilised in developing our newagriculture areas. For example, we have introduced new technology inmanaging agriculture activities on peat soil to ensure sustainable agricultureand to minimise the negative impacts on the environment.Under the 2010 Budget recently announced by the Prime Minister, a NationalGreen Technology Centre will be established to formulate and implement agreen technology development action plan. The agriculture sector will beincluded in the formulation of this plan. In addition, soft loans will also beprovided to companies employing green technology.I must admit that more can be done to improve the enforcement of the manyregulations we have to protect the environment. Apart from enforcement, we arealso educating the farmers and fisherman that their livelihood depends verymuch on them taking care of the environment so that agriculture is sustainableand they can continue to reap returns from agriculture.
9WORLD REPORT: Fisheries are also part of the Ministry’s responsibilities.With world demand rising it is also a very interesting sector to invest inand develop. Please share with us your views on the sector’s currentstatus and on its future.YB DATUK SERI HAJI: The fisheries sector is an important contributor tonational food security, employment generation and foreign exchange earnings.The fisheries sector plays an important role as a major source of income forrural folks in coastal fishing communities.The Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010) has formulated an ambitious plan toincrease the production of fish in the country. A substantial increase is fromaquaculture production, which is targeted to grow by 21% per annum. Theproduction will be private sector-driven, with the government providingsupporting services through an improved delivery system.In a move to develop the aquaculture industry, the Department of Fisheries hasinitiated the Aquaculture Industrial Zones (AIZ) involving the development 39zones, located throughout Malaysia that will be used for the culture of varioustypes of high value aquatic species. End-to-end support services along thesupply chain, such as fish seed production, feed mills, fish processing plantsand other supporting industries, is being developed. Through this programmewe hope to increase our export of fish to international markets.
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Page 5 and 6: 5The availability of these Eksotika
Page 7: 7YB DATUK SERI HAJI: The incidence

Agriculture & Agro-based Industries - World Report

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