PM: Farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen must be more innovative

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen to be more innovative and progressive to boost income and their standard of living. He said in tabling the 2014 Budget, the government had allocated RM6 billion to implement numerous agricultural programmes which were value-added and commercially viable, other than directing the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) to play a more strategic role under the concept 'from the farm to the export markets'. "We can no longer use the old ways, methodlogies, be shackled by static thinking apart from using applications that have not changed. This will lull us into a comfort zone which will actually test our resilience and make us go backwards," he said when launching the 2013 national-level Farmers, Livestock Breeders and Fishermen's Day celebration here today. Also present was Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. The Prime Minister said the capability of carrying out innovations was not the exclusive right of scientists only but as farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen they were also capable of doing so to become more progressive. Najib said through innovations, they (farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen) would be able to produce cheaper goods by making optimum use of resources, other than providing better products and services. "By exploring a wider market, up to the global level, a quantum leap will take place, if we want to make agriculture more attractive," he said. Najib said the government had provided an allocation of RM2.4 billion in subsidy for fertilisers and seeds and numerous incentives for farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen in the country. As such, he said they must be made full use of in the effort to boost their capability to increase income and standard of living. Furthermore, Najib said 60 farmers markets, 50 fish markets and 50 agriculture caravans would be created apart from 100 fresh fruit stalls opened nationwide to be handled by FAMA and the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority, which traders could use to directly sell their goods. He said the government would also set up a 'Food and Agro Council for Export' to be chaired by Ismail Sabri who would act as facilitator to boost the export of local agricultural products. He said what was important currently, was for farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen to be more progressive in order to bring their goods closer to the markets.