KUALA LUMPUR:The potential rise in food insecurity during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many countries, especially developing ones, to focus on optimising natural resources.
This is to ensure that the agricultural sector remains functioning as usual in supplying sufficient quality food at reasonable prices while consumers can get raw supplies during the movement control order and when facing loss of income.
The 2021 Budget tabled during the peak of the third wave of the pandemic was seen as timely as the people look forward to important incentives in planning current interests especially to ensure the survival of the agriculture and food security industry.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Food Sciences senior lecturer Dr Saiful Irwan Zubairi said following the seemingly endless pandemic, food security issues were seen to have a chain effect on the country.
"The main risk during the pandemic crisis is disruption of the domestic food supply chain.
“Although it is seen that food prices remain stable, the chain reaction has begun to appear such as inflation of raw material prices throughout the supply of food to consumers, disruption of supply and transportation operations as well as lower exchange rates," he told Bernama.
According to the United Nations World Food Programme, some 265 million people worldwide are expected to face the risk of food insecurity by the end of 2020 due to the loss of income.
However, the risk is seen as moderate in the country, especially with the various incentives given in the 2021 Budget, including the micro credit financing through Tekun, Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) and Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) amounting to RM1.2 billion to help the B40 and M40 groups.
“The RM1.4 billion allocation for the National Development Scheme and Bank Pembangunan Nasional to support the implementation and development of domestic supply chain and increase the production of local products is the right step in reabsorbing the sharp increase in prices or to cover the operating costs of manufacturers due to declining demand during the pandemic period,” he said.
Saiful Irwan said the RM30 million allocation for the e-Rebate of RM200 for the purchase of energy efficient locally manufactured air conditioner or refrigerator would benefit smallholders in ensuring fresh produce.
"Apart from that, the allocation of RM1.5 billion for the extension of wage subsidy in assisting 70,000 employers and 900,000 workers in the plantation and agriculture sectors is timely in rebalancing the flow of manpower and the supply of agricultural products," he said.
Meanwhile, Universiti Putra Malaysia’s School of Business and Economics deputy dean Assoc Prof Dr Normaz Wan Ismail said there were two main dimensions in food security that were given attention in the budget, which was tabled on Nov 6.
It involves the ability to buy food by providing various incentives in the form of cash or other incentives as well as the provision of high financial distribution to the agriculture and food sector to ensure the food supply chain remains unbroken.
“RM3.8 billion is allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, of the total, RM1.72 billion is given in the form of subsidy, aid and incentive to farmers and fishermen. This assistance will help increase the production capacity of agricultural products.
“We need to take advantage of this COVID-19 crisis to increase domestic production, especially from the agriculture and basic food sectors. This will indirectly reduce the country's dependence on imported food and ensure the sustainability of food security," Normaz said.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Tue Nov 17 2020
According to the United Nations World Food Programme, some 265 million people worldwide are expected to face the risk of food insecurity by the end of 2020 due to the loss of income. File pic/Unsplash
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Boon Lai tarik diri saat akhir
Hasrat Chng Boon Lai menjadi salah seorang calon Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Kubu Baharu tidak kesampaian.
PRK N06 KKB: Kerajaan Perpaduan akan dibebani dengan isu semasa - Muhyiddin
Pilihan Raya Kecil Kuala Kubu Baharu kali ini akan menyaksikan Kerajaan Perpaduan ‘dibebani’ dengan isu-isu semasa yang dilihat membebankan rakyat, tegas bekas Perdana Menteri yang juga Pengerusi Perikatan Nasional, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
PRK N06 KKB: UMNO, BN dukung calon PH demi Kerajaan Perpaduan – Ahmad Zahid
UMNO dan Barisan Nasional berpegang kepada prinsip mendukung calon yang mewakili Kerajaan Perpaduan, iaitu Pang Sock Tao, biarpun beliau berasal daripada parti DAP yang pernah menjadi seteru mereka satu ketika dulu.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Isu akademik, Khairul Azhari mahu fokus pilihan raya
Calon PN bagi PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu, Khairul Azhari Saut enggan mengulas kontroversi melibatkan kelayakan akademiknya yang tular.
AWANI Ringkas: Pertembungan PKR, PN, PRM & Bebas
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Piala Asia B-23: Empat senario Indonesia buru tiket Olimpik Paris
Indonesia kini boleh bermimpi untuk beraksi di pentas Sukan Olimpik Paris tahun ini kerana mereka sekurang-kurangnya telah dijamin aksi playoff menentang Guinea.
KPJ Healthcare, Trustr bergabung untuk revolusi penjagaan kesihatan
Kolaborasi itu akan memfokuskan kepada memanfaatkan rangkaian kesihatan digital inovatif Trustr yang dipacu teknologi AI.
UMT bakal miliki rumah alumni bernilai RM2.2 juta
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) merancang memiliki rumah alumni sebagai pusat sehenti, bagi memperkukuh jaringan kerjasama dengan bekas pelajar, industri dan universiti.
Piala Thomas: Pengalaman Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik gagal ditandingi beregu Hong Kong
Hanya 26 minit sahaja diperlukan bekas juara dunia, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik untuk memastikan Malaysia meraih mata kedua dalam saingan Piala Thomas pagi tadi.
Piala Thomas: Lee Zii Jia beri mata pertama buat Malaysia!
Pemain perseorangan profesional negara, Lee Zii Jia berjaya meraih kemenangan ke atas Lee Cheuk Yiu 21-18, 21-18 dalam perlawanan Kumpulan D pagi tadi.
Kelaparan akut jejaskan 281.6 juta orang tahun lepas - PBB
Tahap bahaya kelaparan akut menjejaskan 281.6 juta orang tahun lepas, tahun kelima berturut-turut bahawa ketakjaminan makanan semakin memburuk.
Hamilton optimis kedudukan lebih baik di GP China
Lewis Hamilton melihat potensi kedudukan yang lebih baik dalam saingan Grand Prix yang kembali ke China buat pertama kali dalam tempoh lima tahun, hujung minggu ini.
'Selfish!' - Fasha Sandha sedih raya di Perlis tak jadi gara-gara dijangkiti COVID-19
Fasha berkata dia mula melakukan pemeriksaan COVID-19 selepas berasa tidak sihat badan dan mengalami bersin tidak henti sejak Raya pertama.
Kes COVID-19 catat penurunan ketara pada ME 14/2024 - KKM
Jumlah kes COVID-19 menurun 97.1 peratus kepada 493 kes pada Minggu Epidemiologi ke-14 (ME 14/2024) iaitu bagi tempoh 31 Mac hingga 6 April lepas berbanding 17,256 kes pada ME 1/2024.
China jadikan pengalaman pencegahan COVID-19 untuk hadapi pandemik masa depan
China akan menjadikan pengalaman dalam pencegahan dan kawalan COVID-19 untuk membuat persediaan yang lebih proaktif untuk menghadapi pandemik masa depan seperti "Penyakit X".
Negara berdepan ketirisan subsidi diesel serius - Amir Hamzah
Negara kini sedang berdepan isu ketirisan subsidi diesel yang serius dan wujud kemungkinan terdapat pihak yang tidak layak masih menikmati subsidi itu, kata Menteri Kewangan II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah.
Kematian akibat kemalangan jalan raya lebih tinggi daripada COVID-19 - Anthony Loke
PDRM akan mengeluarkan data mengenai kemalangan jalan raya pada setiap hari, bukan setahun sekali seperti diamalkan sebelum ini.
Ismail Sabri ziarah lapan beradik yatim piatu akibat COVID-19
Ismail Sabri tiba kira-kira jam 2 petang di kediaman lapan beradik itu di Taman Adenium, Bukit Beruntung pada Selasa.
Teori konspirasi 'Penyakit X'
Ahli teori konspirasi AS sekali lagi membuat 'keuntungan' selepas PBB memberi amaran tentang wabak lebih berbahaya iaitu 'Penyakit X'.
Reformasi dasar, kukuhkan perlindungan, produktiviti pekerja tidak formal
Reformasi dasar perlu dilakukan dalam usaha meningkatkan perlindungan dan produktiviti pekerja tidak formal di Malaysia.