Food security is an inter-ministerial project. Without effective coordination, no plan, however perfect, can be implemented. – NSTP file pic

WE recently hosted a discourse on food security to inform students about the challenges that lie ahead.

The young should be well informed about policies. One involves supplying enough food to the population.

Food is a key item in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Making it available is becoming more challenging as the global population races towards 10 billion.

The event was a collaboration between Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy and the Hubert Humphrey Alumni of Malaysia. A blend of local and overseas students attended the forum. Adjunct Professor Khairuddin Tahir, president of the Humphrey Alumni, set the scene for the panel discussion.

He spoke about the challenges Malaysia faces in meeting food security targets. The panellists comprised experts from the food service industry and the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, and a farming consultant who has developed farming programmes all over the world.

It became clear that much is not right with the country’s food security approach. It was also obvious that we are not short of policies and plans.

Food security planning is mentioned in literally all the development plans, including the 12th Malaysia Plan. But we still struggle to deliver on the targets.

Rice takes centre stage in any analysis of food security. This is because it forms our staple diet.

Low productivity is among the common grouses. And this is despite all the rice-breeding breakthroughs from our R&D centres. Some blame the low yield on poor planting material. Others single out the distortion in the supply chain that results in farmers benefiting the least.

The millers and importers are the people who gain the most. At one time, there was talk about merging the small farmers into an estate-like business. Nothing much came out of it.

The rice industry needs serious rethinking. The palm oil industry model is worth emulating. Rice needs the equivalent of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board to better coordinate growth. Many studies have shown that it is not impossible for Malaysia to be a net exporter of rice.

A recent announcement by Sarawak that it is taking that path should be lauded. For that matter, it is not a bad idea for all states to craft their own plan to expand their rice industry.

We know that Kedah and Kelantan are the country’s major rice bowls. Why can’t they turn their rice business into a lucrative economic venture. Remember, Vietnam also started small. Now it has become a major exporter of rice.

Technology is undoubtedly a key piece in the rice jigsaw. At the forum, one panellist spoke about his experience reviving croplands in some of the most difficult areas of the world.

He has helped to revive farming in the deserts of Nigeria, where the notorious Boko Haram is a constant menace.

He has even done work in the remote areas of Afghanistan. We should use such expertise more to revive our abandoned land mass for the growing of food crops.

The problem has much to do with poor execution of plans. It is common knowledge that we are good at drawing up plans and blueprints.

But we do poorly at implementation. And the main reason why is we lack coordination. Food security is an inter-ministerial project. Without effective coordination, no plan, however perfect, can be implemented.

Our food industry needs a serious revamp. The potential for Malaysia to become a net exporter of food, especially rice, is not unrealistic. Now we are importing to the tune of RM70 billion every year. The bill is growing.

It is draining away much of our foreign exchange. Not to mention the adverse consequences for the ringgit.

It is time to establish the Malaysian Rice Development Board to create better public-private partnership.

At the end of the day, farmers must be adequately compensated to sustain the industry.

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The writer is a professor at the Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy, UCSI University

Published Date: March 17, 2024