LEADERS MAP OUT EAST ASIA'S NEW VISION FOR AGRICULTURE

JAKARTA, June 11 (Bernama) -- The World Economic Forum on East Asia special


session on agriculture here today acknowledged that the public and private sectors must work together with farmers to map out a new vision for agriculture in tackling food security.

The success of the initiative will require the innovative strength of the industry, the government leadership, the mobilisation of civil society and the entrepreneurship of farmers.

Contract farming, which is being practised and advocated in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, and the availability of financing are among important measures in realising the vision.

Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Chua Tee Yong, who represents Malaysia at the forum, highlighted Malaysia''s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) which also gives emphasis to farming.

"Through contract farming you resolve the problem of market access, improve the quality of products, ensure sustainable land use and increase farmer'' income while the private sector is assured of the quality of products," he said in an interview here.

Chua said the forum discussed topics ranging from raising agriculture productivity, developing opportunities to improve rural livelihood, improving sustainable land use practice, trading of agriculture goods, to leadership for regional and global agendas.

Chua said the participants realised that in order to meet the criteria, the public and private sectors should focus firstly on smallholders, using existing success models to expand.

The forum also deliberated on the importance of the government''s role in stipulating land use for agriculture as its growth is in direct competition with development as in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, he added.

He said he would brief the post-cabinet meeting on the outcome of the discussion, particularly on emphasis given to contract farming in countries like Indonesia and Vietnam.

Chua later met his Indonesian counterpart, Dr Bayu Krisnamurthi to exchange notes on agricultural issues.

Malaysia signed an Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia in 2009 on collaboration in agriculture.