SHAH ALAM, Sept 28 — All states should work together under the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (MAFS) to formulate a mechanism to reduce dependence on imported food, said state executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Dato’ Izham Hashim.
He said Selangor, once regarded as one of the states dominating the country’s agro-based sector, cannot meet demand without cooperation from other states with diverse resources.
“It is very difficult for us to meet the needs of nine million people in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur alone, but we can contribute to strengthening the national food chain, through modernisation and high-value agriculture.
“If every state plays its role, including developing a sustainable framework, the country’s overall food supply will be more secure, and reliance on imports can be reduced,” he told reporters at a press conference at the Shah Alam Stadium Carnival Square here yesterday.
He acknowledged that every state faces its own challenges, especially in urban areas, where high costs and land constraints pose difficulties in boosting domestic food supplies and self-sufficiency levels.
Izham also suggested other states prioritise modern, high-value agricultural methods, which could double food production.
“If we focus on high-value agriculture, even small plots of land can generate high yields. For example, modern techniques, such as hydroponics, can produce up to three times more than conventional farming. This approach must be treated as a discipline, and supported by the use of available technology,” he said.
“Technologies in production, seeding, marketing and storage must be given due attention and further streamlined. By doing so, we can significantly cut costs. For instance, Malaysia spends RM7.5 billion on importing vegetables and fruits that we are actually capable of producing ourselves,” he said.
Earlier, Izham officiated the Selangor AgroFest (SAF) 2025, which features 160 agricultural and agrofood stalls, and is expected to generate sales transactions worth RM500,000 over its four-day run.
