The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is evaluating the conflict’s potential effects, focusing on rising input costs from oil price volatility, while noting limited direct supply disruption.
PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) is assessing the potential impact of the Middle East conflict on the national food sector. Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu stated the direct impact on food supply is expected to be limited.
He explained that most of Malaysia’s food imports are not sourced from the Middle East. The majority of imports come from ASEAN countries, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil and China.
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“For now, the impact is not that much because we do not import many food items from the Middle East,” he said. However, he warned that rising world oil prices could increase agricultural input costs.
This includes the potential for fertilizer prices to rise. Ministry officials are conducting intensive analysis to project outcomes if oil prices continue to increase.
Mohamad said KPKM is implementing a stock review to assess existing agricultural input supplies. The review will determine how long current supplies can last.
Other measures include planning supply needs based on existing stocks. The ministry is also increasing efforts to boost local food production.
These efforts involve using new technology in the agricultural sector. They also include opening new agricultural areas, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, and developing idle land.
The government continues to focus on food security issues, particularly rice supply. Rice is the country’s most important food security component, even though imported rice prices are currently stable.
“But the impact of the increase in oil prices will probably result in an increase in prices and so on, we will wait for the report, we cannot speculate,” Mohamad added. He spoke to reporters after attending a ministry staff meeting in conjunction with Ramadan.
The Sun Malaysia
