THE Third National Agriculture Policy (1998-2010) focuses on agriculture programmes which emphasise agro-forestry, mixed farming, rehabilitation of marginal plants, recycling of organic waste, mulching, cover cropping, organic farming, composting and soil and water conservation.
According to the Statistics Department’s Monthly Statistical Bulletin, the food bill increased from RM3.5bil in 1985 to RM11.3bil in 2000 and it is still increasing.
This has caused a tremendous strain on the economy due to loss of foreign exchange.
This may be a challenge for population growth or market demand by end users and not for farmers. Why?
In Malaysia, small-scale farmers are only interested in planting coconut trees, rubber trees, padi, palm oil and tobacco.
Perhaps, this is because little needs to be done to make these crops ready for the market.
In Cameron Highlands, for example, farmers plant vegetables and flowers because there is a ready market for them.
If farmers in Malaysia were to plant lemongrass, chilly, brinjal, long bean, kailan, cabbage and others on a large scale for local and export purposes, who or which organisation would be willing to market them?
In my research, I tried to contact organisations that market agriculture produce.
How would one market produce such as lemongrass?
The answer given to my question was “one must go to the wholesale market.”
This wasn’t a strategic business answer and neither was it very supportive.
I then went to the Research Institute of Agriculture and Development to enquire about techniques to extract produce.
The feedback given was on the negative side.
If I were a biotech farmer, from whom do I seek the information?
Currently, biotechnology is considered the backbone of agriculture and the key for national-scale development.
The adoption and diffusion of biotech crops have gone global and are poised to transform global production and development, said C. Ford Runge, director of the University of Minnesota’s Centre for International Food and Agriculture Policy.
An estimated 8.25 million farmers in 17 countries now plant biotech crops, up from seven million farmers in 18 countries in 2003.
This is according to the non-profit International Association for the Acquisition of Agro-Biotech Applications (IAAAA).
A study by a University of Minnesota food and trade policy analyst reported that the global commercial value of biotech crops from 2003 to 2004 was US$44bil (RM166bil).
This figure is expected to grow to US$210bil (RM794bil) by the end of the decade.
An October 2004 study by the US National Centre for Food and Agriculture Policy found the country’s farmers who planted six genetically enhanced crops in 2003 – canola, corn, cotton, papaya, soybean and squash- earned US$1.9bil (RM7.18bil) more than what they would have earned if they had planted conventional varieties.
In Canada, the planting of biotech-engineered canola in 2000 resulted in extra income of US$5.80 (RM22) per acre over conventional varieties.
This is according to a study conducted by the Canola Council of Canada.
The yields were 10% higher for biotech-engineered canola or three bushels more per acre.
The IAAAA said that in the Philippines, the net income of farmers who planted biotech-engineered corn was about 34% higher than that of those who planted conventional corn.
Before the establishment of the agricultural industry, farmers in Bolivia cultivated traditional crops such as potatoes, corn, vegetables and fruit.
Most of them had low productivity levels and were subjected to large price fluctuations at the national market.
The average per capita income of rural families was around US$500 (RM1,890) per year, which was lower than the national average.
After the establishment of a rural agricultural industry with the initiation of the production of essential oils such as eucalyptus, lemon grass, Japanese mint, black muna, romerillo, molle, thola and others, the farmers earned close to US$100,000 (RM378,000) annually in supplementary income, a very significant amount compared to the income from the sale of traditional agricultural produce.
Improvement in the quality of family life was brought about by the benefits derived from the project for essential oils.
Professor of biochemistry at Purdue University Prof Glint Chapple has cloned a gene from a common laboratory plant called Arabadopsis.
This gene generates materials to produce plastics in crops without damaging the health of the plants.
Currently, petroleum is used to make nearly all plastics.
Prof Chapple asserts that plants are unique chemical factories capable of producing a myriad of interesting chemicals.
One can harness that ability by using the genomic technique to identify those genes required to make specific compounds.
Subsequently, biotechnology is used to engineer the genes and introduce them again into crops.
Some plants are mentioned in the Quran.
For example, there is a verse that says, “By the fig and the olive and the Mount of Sinai and this city of security.”
Another verse says: “O Moses! We cannot endure one kind of food (always) so beseech thy Lord for us to produce for us of what the earth growth, its pot herbs and cucumbers, its garlic, lentils and onions.”
The Ninth Malaysia Plan, will be launched in March and will contain seven strategies.
These strategies involve the promotion of new sources of high value-added growth, strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises, developing new avenues for domestic investment, dealing with the emergence of China and India, completing the rehabilitation and liberalisation of the financial sector, building world-class human capital and remaining cognisant of income distribution.
The first strategy is related to the agriculture sector.
It seeks to make use of what we have already been blessed with and not to abandon our traditional strengths.
It also seeks to build on our rich endowment of biodiversity and venture into new high value-added activities such as biotechnology, agro-biotechnology and bio-pharmaceuticals.
To achieve Vision 2020, we need strong commitment from institutions, marketing arms and farmers as well as a reliable delivery and packaging system.
Therefore, perhaps what is needed is a third party to complement what has already been mentioned.
In order to embark on agro-biotechnology research, biotechnology and polymer engineering at the post-graduate level must be introduced as a priority.
In conclusion, to properly manage the agricultural sector necessitates dependence on the strength of our science and technology and marketing.
In addition, the market must be prepared for our products.
Research institutions and marketing agencies dealing in agriculture should perhaps be privatised under government-linked companies.