PUTRAJAYA: Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman has expressed hope that the 2018 Budget will provide more funding to empower the agriculture sector.
“We hope the government will give us a bigger budget this time around to help us build better facilities and upgrade current infrastructures such as water systems for paddy farmers,” he said.
The ministry, he said, is also making efforts to increase greater participation of new farmers to venture into the plantation of the 'musang king' durian, pineapple and jackfruit which now has higher export value in countries such as China.
“We are also conducting more programmes and training for young and female entrepreneurs to immerse themselves in the agriculture industry.
“Therefore, a bigger budget will be helpful. However that is entirely up to the government,” he added.
Tajuddin was speaking to reporters after meeting major meat and livestock suppliers from across the country today.
On another matter, Tajuddin said the Veterinary Services Department is looking at importing livestock such as cattle, goats and sheep from other countries, apart from Thailand and Australia, to reduce import dependency on both countries.
“If we expand our import market to other countries such as Oman and South Africa, we would be able to get a larger supply and obtain competitive or cheaper prices,” he said.
He said the move can also be a step in the right direction as China is monopolising the import of cattle from Thailand.
“We hope this move will also encourage more Bumiputera to explore business opportunities in the meat and livestock industry,” he added. Bumiputera businessmen, he said, currently make up only 10 per cent of the total number of players in the local industry.
Tajuddin also suggested the setup of a Bumiputera consortium to provide benefits in terms of creating more competitive pricing.
“The consortium should involve government-linked companies that have the financial potential to work together with Bumiputera entrepreneurs, forming a powerful alliance that could break through the meat and livestock import market,” he added.