PUTRAJAYA: The Agriculture and Agro-based Ministry will set up an Agriculture Consultative Council by next month at the latest.
Its minister Salahuddin Ayub said the council will discuss various agriculture issues and look at ways to boost agriculture productivity.
"Through this council, we could also make improvements relating to agriculture technology, marketing, as well as research and development.
"We hope it can give (us) new input and empower innovation, either in the long or short term," he told reporters after clocking in for duty at 7.20am today.
Salahuddin said that the consultative council will comprise experienced figures from the agriculture sector.
"The ministry's secretary-general and his deputy have received a list of names of proposed council members," he added.
He said those in the list will be properly vetted to ensure that they are sufficiently qualified and could give their full commitment.
On who would head the council, Salahuddin said the candidate would be a professional.
"I will also (refer to) Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto’s pledge that board members must comprise professionals with clean backgrounds who can manage things well, to avoid past issues to be repeated," he added.