Kuala Lumpur:The government is determined to bolster the nation's agrifood sector by increasing the production and export of high-value commodities such as pineapples and durians, aiming to reduce the country's food trade deficit.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu stated that this initiative would not only enhance the agrifood sector's contribution to export earnings but also lessen the nation's reliance on food imports. He highlighted that commodities like pineapples and durians have shown significant growth, with a recent memorandum of understanding on durian exports at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show expected to bring in over RM1 billion in additional value. Pineapple exports have also tripled in the past three years.

The minister noted during a session in the Dewan Rakyat that the gap between food imports and exports is narrowing as the country increases its commodity exports. This was in response to a question from Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) regarding the government's plans to decrease food import values over the next five years.

Efforts to enhance local production include tackling price competition for locally grown vegetables, which face competition from imported produce. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is implementing the Cost of Assurance mechanism to regulate vegetable imports, especially from China, to support local farmers.

Mohamad also mentioned that the ministry is collaborating with state governments to secure appropriate land for agrifood activities, with nearly all states cooperating to provide land for livestock farming, vegetable cultivation, and grain corn production.