ID :
27111
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 19:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/27111
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INCORPORATE ICT & BIOTECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE, SAYS PM
SERDANG (Malaysia), Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Information communication technology (ICT) and biotechnology will be incorporated in the agricultural sector to strengthen this sector to cushion the adverse impact of the global economy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Tuesday.
The prime minister said the National Economic Council had already
recommended and acknowledged agriculture as one of the primary sectors that
could be developed further to cushion the adverse impact of the global economy.
The international advisory panel on biotechnology was also of the opinion
that incorporating ICT and biotechnology in the agricultural sector would
catalyse national development, especially in agriculture and the agro-based
industry, he said at a gathering with farmers at the Malaysia Agro Exposition
Park here.
He said it could further enhance good agricultural paractice, produce
better
seed and fertiliser and lead to the production of not only food products but
also pharmaceauticals and cosmetics.
Abdullah said Bank Negara (Malaysia's Central Bank) had also acknowledged
that agriculture was the third most important sector in terms of contribution to
the country's economic growth.
He said the government's confidence in the agricultural sector was not an
empty dream but was based on its efforts and strategies to develop the sector.
The notion that it was an outdated sector and needed no development was
erroneous because it could generate thousands of ringgit in revenue, he said.
"Developing the agricultural sector is not something new because the
Agriculture Ministry and Maha (Malaysia Aricultrual and Horticultural
Exposition) have been in existence for a long time. We're only adding value to
these things," he said.
The farmers must also have faith in sector, he said, adding that some
farmers earned RM3 million a year by producing fruit sauces and some even made
RM15 million a year by producing tapioca chips and frozen foodstuff.
(US$1=RM3.5)
"Don't think it's troublesome, nonsensical and a mere dream to attain
success in agriculture," he said.
Abdullah said human capital development among farmers must continue to be
enhanced for them to learn new agricultural techniques and the use of research
products.
They should not consider their learning days to be over because learning
was
a life-long process, he added.
He hoped that the gap between the agricultural and industrial sectors would
be narrowed with the development of the former.
Besides the farmers, agencies under the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry
Ministry must also play their role to develop the sector, said Abdullah who
toured the exhibition gallery and inspected the products of agricultural
research.
The prime minister said the National Economic Council had already
recommended and acknowledged agriculture as one of the primary sectors that
could be developed further to cushion the adverse impact of the global economy.
The international advisory panel on biotechnology was also of the opinion
that incorporating ICT and biotechnology in the agricultural sector would
catalyse national development, especially in agriculture and the agro-based
industry, he said at a gathering with farmers at the Malaysia Agro Exposition
Park here.
He said it could further enhance good agricultural paractice, produce
better
seed and fertiliser and lead to the production of not only food products but
also pharmaceauticals and cosmetics.
Abdullah said Bank Negara (Malaysia's Central Bank) had also acknowledged
that agriculture was the third most important sector in terms of contribution to
the country's economic growth.
He said the government's confidence in the agricultural sector was not an
empty dream but was based on its efforts and strategies to develop the sector.
The notion that it was an outdated sector and needed no development was
erroneous because it could generate thousands of ringgit in revenue, he said.
"Developing the agricultural sector is not something new because the
Agriculture Ministry and Maha (Malaysia Aricultrual and Horticultural
Exposition) have been in existence for a long time. We're only adding value to
these things," he said.
The farmers must also have faith in sector, he said, adding that some
farmers earned RM3 million a year by producing fruit sauces and some even made
RM15 million a year by producing tapioca chips and frozen foodstuff.
(US$1=RM3.5)
"Don't think it's troublesome, nonsensical and a mere dream to attain
success in agriculture," he said.
Abdullah said human capital development among farmers must continue to be
enhanced for them to learn new agricultural techniques and the use of research
products.
They should not consider their learning days to be over because learning
was
a life-long process, he added.
He hoped that the gap between the agricultural and industrial sectors would
be narrowed with the development of the former.
Besides the farmers, agencies under the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry
Ministry must also play their role to develop the sector, said Abdullah who
toured the exhibition gallery and inspected the products of agricultural
research.
