KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 — Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has called on members of the National Farmer’s Association (Nafas) to play an active role in helping the government to fight middlemen.
He said Nafas, with a membership of more than 850,000 nationwide, had the capacity to produce and market their own agricultural products.
“In terms of numbers, we are huge and strong. However, has this strength been successfully translated into productivity, especially in producing crops?
“Our biggest weakness is not mastering the machinery and mechanisation in agriculture,” he said when launching the 41st Nafas Annual General Meeting and dinner here, yesterday.
He also said that Nafas should play a role in reducing the number of imported food from overseas.
Ismail said Malaysia currently imported 30 per cent of its rice, 70 per cent of beef, 85 per cent of mutton and vegetables from overseas to meet local demands.
Ismail Sabri also launched the Agro-Farmer smartcard, a collaboration between AgroBank and Nafas. The card functions as a membership card as well as a visa debit card which could also be used overseas. — Bernama
