Malaysia: Import of vegetables, fruits to be reduced by 2020
Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the ministry had set up a 'war room' to implement programmes and encourage the cultivation of vegetables and fruit to meet the target. "SSL means we don't depend on imports anymore. SSL for selected items, for example, is currently 70:30. But the output of certain fruits are too low. However, we have certain products which we believe can meet the target," he said.
The MOU for the supply of fresh produce to the KR1M network was also witnessed by Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek.
Ismail Sabri said the government imported 868 million kilogrammes of vegetables and fruits annually from 48 nations.
However, with SSL, the import of all vegetables and fruits including papaya, pineapple, water melon and jackfruit, which could be planted locally, would be reduced in stages.
Meanwhile, he also reminded all parties not to use the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as an issue in the increase in the prices of food.
Source: nst.com.my
