ALOR STAR: Malaysia has a comparative advantage in striking a balance between the pressing demand for urbanisation and the decline in agricultural output, which has become a global issue.

Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the country is capable of addressing the decline in agriculture output as compared to other nations with higher temperatures. 

"It is a global issue, particularly with the pressing urbanisation issue and the decline of worldwide agricultural output due to surging demand for urbanisation and industrialisation.

"Weather uncertainties are another factor that halts higher output by the agriculture sector.

"At the same time, the demand for agricultural output is increasing due to tourism and travel activities, so we are talking about a mismatch in demand and supply.

"However, Malaysia still has a comparative advantage in addressing declining agricultural output more efficiently compared to other countries with higher temperatures," he told reporters after an engagement session with padi farmers in Kampung Masjid, Kubang Rotan here today in conjunction with the ongoing Agriculture Census 2024.

Present was Muda Agriculture Development Authority (Mada) general manager Kamarudin Dahuli.

Commenting further, Uzir said the Agriculture Census 2024 is crucial to answering several problem statements faced by the country's agriculture sector. 

"For instance, we have started adopting modern technology in the agriculture sector but is there enough access to support, financing, and so on?

"Another important question is that we need to establish facts on how many per cent of our farmers are elderly and how many youths are in the sector to ensure the adoption of technology," he said. 

Uzir added that Agriculture Census 2024, which began on July 7, will be vital in establishing a real-time, comprehensive, and reliable database covering four areas, namely poultry, aquaculture, agriculture, and logging.

Meanwhile, he said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) is confident that it would achieve a 100 per cent survey nationwide by October 10. 

"As for today, we have achieved 30 per cent after the census began about a month ago. 

"We have visited 19,700 houses involved in agricultural activity. Thus, we are poised to complete the census process within three months.

"We are getting good cooperation from players and all stakeholders in the sector with all agencies involved in the agriculture sector affirming that the census should be given full attention," he said.

He said the department estimated that over 1.3 million households and individuals are involved in agricultural activity, besides nearly 20,000 registered organisations, institutions, cooperatives, and associations nationwide.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/1085654/malaysia-has-comparative-advantage-balance-urbanisation-and-agricultural