chapter 6 - Malaysia Productivity Corporation ( MPC)

PRODUCTIVITY PERFORMANCE OF THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR
sector, must demonstrate the ability to organise
small farmers as contract suppliers based on
principles of fair trade as well as to provide
extension services and ensuring Good Agricultural
Practices (GAP) compliance. Anchor companies are
also required to work on an integrated supply chain
that includes post-harvest management, logistics,
marketing and branding. Incentives include
reimbursable expenses, mainly in the horticulture
and aquaculture sub-sectors.
• Strengthening Logistics Infrastructure
The increased production of fresh produce
for example, premium shrimp, fresh fruits and
vegetables and cut flowers, would require
expanded cold and cool chain facilities at ports
and airports to meet the requirements for export
markets. These centres will also be equipped with
Sanitary and Phytosanitary facilities for vapour
heat treatment, fumigation, hot water treatment
and irradiation.
• Strengthening the Adoption of Good
Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
Compliance with international standards for fresh
agriculture produce and processed foods will
ensure food safety and enhance market access
for Malaysian exports. Malaysia has developed a
number of voluntary farm certification schemes
for quality assurance. These include: Skim Amalan
Ladang Baik Malaysia (SALM) for fresh fruit and
vegetables, Skim Amalan Ladang Ternakan (SALT)
for livestock, Skim Pensijilan Ladang Akuakultur
Malaysia (SPLAM) for fisheries and aquaculture and
Skim Organik Malaysia (SOM) for organic farming.
SALM-certified farms qualify as preferred suppliers
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and are eligible to use the Malaysia is Best branding
logo of the Federal Agricultural Marketing
Authority (FAMA). On the export front, through a
bilateral agreement with Singapore, SALM-certified
farm consignments receive preferential treatment.
In 2011 there were 356 SALM-certified farms and
75 SOM-certified organic farms.
GMP certification will ensure that processed
food is manufactured in accordance with best
practices in manufacturing, and is a prerequisite to
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)
certification.
• Ensuring Sufficient Supply of Human Capital
A four-pronged strategy will be adopted to
address the current shortage of human capital.
Firstly, farming will be promoted as a high-income
occupation with the objective of attracting a new
generation of Malaysians to this industry. Existing
course syllabi at local universities will be reviewed
to emphasise core subjects such as agronomy,
animal breeding and husbandry, and agriculture
ICT. Local universities will ensure sufficient student
enrolment in newer fields such as aquaculture
and aquaculture systems engineering. Lastly,
internship programmes will be established to
provide graduates with field experience. Aside
from students, human capital can also be tapped
from both the public and private sector retirees
and retraining them as agropreneurs.
• Changing Regulations and Policies
MOA will review the relevant acts and regulations
pertaining to the fresh and processed food industry
which also include the livestock and fisheries subsectors.
Additionally, the MOA is also looking to