By Nasuha Badrul Huzaini
FOOD security is fast becoming a concern in Malaysia as more and more consumers begin to feel the pinch from food price fluctuations.
As defined by the United Nation’s Committee on World Food Security, food security means that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life.
In the Global Food Security Index last year that measured food affordability, quality and safety, Malaysia ranked 39th out of 113 countries in the world. We stood in second place in Southeast Asia after Singapore.
Around the world a host of factors contribute to food scarcity, including climate change and a growing global population.
These issues need to be addressed otherwise it will not only be the supply chains that will be disrupted but our lives as well.
Big responsibility
Selangor Journal recently spoke with the Selangor Agriculture Development Corporation (PKPS) chief executive officer, Dr Mohamad Khairil Mohamad Razi, about the agency’s role in addressing food security.
Mohamad Khairil said PKPS is responsible for developing the plantation and agro-based industries to enhance the socioeconomic development of Selangor while conducting commercial projects for the benefit of the people.
“Food security aspects have always been the main focus for PKPS whereby we were mandated with the responsibility to develop the plantation and agrobased industries.
“PKPS is focused more on the yields of fresh produce such as chicken, where we have our own poultry farm in Kuala Selangor and oil palm plantations. Aside from that, PKPS also owns vegetable and fruit farms in the Selangor Fruit Valley, and we also market daily necessities like rice, cooking oil and sugar under our own brand name, Ehsan.
“As you can see, we play a proactive role by representing the state government in addressing the state’s food needs. Our job is to ensure that Selangor’s food supply chain is never disrupted,” he said when contacted recently.
Cheaper options
[caption id="attachment_266862" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Visitors purchase fresh chicken during the Ehsan Food Price Intervention Programme at Wisma PKPS in Shah Alam, on February 7, 2022. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/SELANGORKINI[/caption]
The ongoing struggles brought by Covid-19 to the people of Selangor, including rising food prices, meant that at some point the state government had to step in with a plan.
This plan manifested in the form of the Ehsan Food Prices Intervention Programme, or more popularly known as the Jualan Prihatin Rakyat, on February 28.
Its objective was simple — PKPS would sell fresh meats, poultry, fish and eggs at discounted prices at 64 locations around Selangor to make these food items accessible to the lower income groups.
Fresh whole chickens were sold at RM12 each, grade B eggs were RM10 a tray, fresh meat and bones were RM35 a kilogramme and frozen fish, RM8 a kilogramme. The programme was a success.
“It recorded total sales of RM854,269 with RM263,555.92 in total discounts as of April 17,” Mohamad Khairil said.
In fact the demand was so good that from April 28 to 30, the programme was expanded and rebranded as the Jualan Mega Prihatin Carnival to offer the people cheaper options in preparation for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
People thronged to Tanjung Sepat, Batang Kali, Kampung Pandan, Pandan Jaya, Batu Caves, Stadium Shah Alam and Stadium Mini Sabak Bernam to make last-minute buys for their Raya cookouts. The accumulated sales from these locations totalled RM272,750.70.
“This initiative benefits approximately 700 to 1000 people at any given location.
In total, the programme has benefited around 50,000 people since its launch,” Mohamad Khairil said.
Riding on this momentum, state executive councillor for agriculture Izham Hashim said the Selangor government has decided to again sell chickens under the Ehsan Food Prices Intervention Programme in June.
He said the programme will run until Hari Raya Aidiladha in July to act as a short-term solution to the current shortage of chicken in the country.
“We will increase the number of chickens that will be sold from 4,000 a day to 10,000 a day, to cover the supply shortage.
“The Selangor government understands the struggles faced by the people, therefore the chickens will be sold at cheaper than market price at 67 locations in the state.
“We hope by doing so, we will help consumers who are burdened with the escalating prices of food items,” Izham said at a press conference recently.
He added that the initiative will also involve cooperation from Koperasi Warga Hijrah Selangor Berhad (Kohijrah) and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama).
Reducing imports
[caption id="attachment_271404" align="alignright" width="300"]
Selangor Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari together with Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Aminuddin Harun show the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) documents for the joint venture (JV) project for grain corn cultivation at Wisma PKPS, Shah Alam, on May 18, 2022. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/SELANGORKINI[/caption]
The successful partnership between the state government and PKPS on food security projects extends further.
Both parties recently agreed to tie up with the Negeri Sembilan state government to develop a grain corn cultivation project.
PKPS, on behalf of the state government, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan (Incorporated) to develop 700 acres of land to plant grain corn as poultry feed.
“The land to be developed for poultry feed involves 300 acres in Kuala Langat Selatan and 400 acres in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan,” Mohamad Khairil said.
Should the project be another success story, it will greatly reduce the need for imports in the future, encourage self-sustenance and ensure that our local poultry farmers get better prices for the grain they buy.
This article first appeared in the Selangor Journal monthly June edition, published on May 30, 2022
