JOHOR BARU: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has proposed two Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) when Malaysia takes over the Asean chairmanship next year.
Ministry secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali said these aimed to achieve more sustainable development of the agriculture and forestry sector, as well as enhance and strengthen regional food security.
“The proposed PEDs next year are timely and reflective of current challenges faced by Asean,” he told reporters here on Tuesday (Aug 6).
Earlier, he attended the Special Senior Officials Meeting of the 45th Meeting of Asean Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (Special SOM-45th AMAF) here.
He said the PEDs, themed “Growing Together: Advancing Asean Agriculture and Forestry Sustainable Development”, focused on two main areas.
Lokman Hakim said they touched on the development outlook for Asean agriculture and provided insights into the future of the food, agriculture and forestry sectors.
He said the PEDs also involved the development of the Plan of Action on Food Security (2026-2030), a continuation of the current Plan of Action on Food Security (2021-2025).
“It is vital for Asean countries to work together to ensure food security and food safety given climate change and global warming,” he added.
He added that member nations could not work in isolation as these phenomena are affecting countries all over the world and continuous efforts are needed to mitigate the situation.
Lokman Hakim said the grouping’s members have to care for the collective agriculture and forestry ecosystem and address climate change.
“Embracing and investing in technology, and beefing up research and development activities are the way forward to develop, transform and strengthen Asean’s agricultural sector,” he said.
