KOTA SAMARAHAN, Nov 28 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today food security is one aspect that Malaysia must prioritise, noting that the country imports RM17 billion worth of agro-based food products annually.

He said the country will face a difficult situation if it does not improve its own agro-based food production.

“Therefore, I feel that we need to have a steady food supply or assured food security by improving our production of agro-based food,” he told the opening of the 40th national-level Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen’s Day here.

“In our aspiration to become a developed nation, it has also to be based on the development of the agriculture sector in tandem with the development of other sectors.

“The potentials in the agriculture sector are high, but it needs hard work and dedication by all. It may not be as glamorous as other sectors, but we need to work on it to improve food production,” he said.

He said the government is forecasting an annual growth of 3.5 per cent in the agriculture sector, contributing 7.8 per cent to the country’s GDP.

The prime minister said in the transformation of the agriculture sector, farmers and livestock breeders can no longer rely on outdated technology.

“We need to change our mindset and to stop looking at the agriculture sector as sufficient to feed ourselves and families only.

“We look at Holland, despite being a small country, is a major exporter of agro-based food. The same goes with Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand and Australia with their highly developed technology to improve farm productions,” he said.

Najib said the federal government values the contributions of the farmers, breeders, fishermen to the nation’s food supply and economy.

“This is easy to understand. We can imagine what will happen if the farmers stop planting rice or the fishermen stop going out to sea to catch fish. We will have problems,” he said, adding that the government will continue to help them to improve production levels.

He said the government will set up 50 more agriculture markets and 150 agro-based bazaars nationwide next year.

“We are also looking at the potentials for highlands in Sarawak for the planting of temperate fruits and vegetables in a large scale,” he said.