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Agriculture has traditionally been the mainstay of Malaysia’s economy and remains an important sector which is expected to contribute about 7.4% to the national GDP in 2009. Although its contribution has dwindled in the past few decades as the nation turned its attention to manufacturing, the agriculture sector is being revitalised in recent years.
The Government recognises the important role of agriculture as a food provider, especially at a time when costs of production are increasing, rices of food imports are escalating and the world’s food reserve is dwindling. The sector has been identifed under the Ninth Malaysia Plan and the Third Industrial Master Plan (IMP3) as the nation’s third engine of growth and an area to be promoted as an important source of export earnings.
As announced in the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the Government is revitalising the sector with a new emphasis on New Agriculture, which entails making a more commercially viable approach through larger scale farming, wider application of modern technology, production of high quality nd value-added products, unlocking the potential in biotechnology, increased convergence with information and communications technology (ICT) and the participation of entrepreneurial farmers and skilled workforce. Under Budget 2009, the Government will implement several agriculture programmes to ensure the nation’s food requirements are met. A total amount of RM5.6 billion is allocated under the National Food Security Policy from 2008 to 2010, to provide incentives to agriculture entrepreneurs towards reducing production costs and boosting its output.
The current market conditions, coupled with the Government’s incentives and support for the agriculture sector, have presented an opportune ime for SMEs to venture into lucrative businesses in food production. SMEs are therefore encouraged to seriously explore their options in his sector.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the SMI Association of Malaysia and Tourism Publications Corporation Sdn Bhd on the publication of the SME Business Directory and for their roles in promoting agriculture as a viable business among SMEs.
From,
Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Indusrty ,
Dato' Mustapa Mohamed