KLANG, Aug 24 — The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (MAFS) is implementing several measures to help increase the country’s income with the expected increase in government spending.
Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said that among the measures taken were to increase the amount of exports of agricultural and food products as well as explore new markets abroad.
The move aims to balance the country's import and export values thus contributing to increasing government income.
"Also, while we are focusing on increasing pineapple production to meet the international demand of around 4,000 containers per year when we are only able to supply 800 containers.
"InsyaAllah, next year we are also expected to be able to reduce the import of onions," he said.
Mohamad was speaking at the presentation of the Mesra Rakyat Projek@ Parlimen Kota Raja 2024 today.
Commenting on the coming tabling of Budget 2025, he hopes MAFS will be given additional allocation to solve the drainage and irrigation problems in the padi farming areas in Sabah.
Regarding the Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agro Tourism Exhibition (Maha) 2024, Mohamad said MAFS is targeting the attendance of three million visitors at the event which is scheduled from September 11 to September 22.
Maha 2024 also saw an increase in the participation of international exhibitors who will bring with them modern agricultural equipment to be introduced to the local industry in addition to agricultural products.
— Bernama
