Johor aims to increase its fruit and vegetable production by 33%. — Filepic
JOHOR aims to substantially increase production in fruit and vegetable, aquaculture and ruminant livestock as part of its food security agenda by 2027.
“We want to achieve substantial increases in three key sub-sectors, namely a 33% increase in fruit and vegetable production, 62% growth in aquaculture and 34.5% increase in the population of ruminant livestock,” said state agriculture, agro-based industry and rural development committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip.
He said the total allocation of RM68mil for agriculture had been utilised for a variety of programmes and incentives.
“This year, there was a total allocation of RM68mil, comprising RM24mil from the state government and over RM44mil from the Federal Government through the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry,” he said at the Johor State Assembly sitting at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar, Iskandar Puteri.
“The initiatives are closely aligned with Johor’s vision of modernising and empowering its agricultural sector to enhance national food security,” he said.
Zahari added that the state had also emphasised the adoption of advanced technologies such as mechanisation, automation and Internet of Things (IoT) systems through the Smart Agriculture and Agricultural Mechanisation programme.
“Permanent food production parks (TKPM) in Johor are also being upgraded with modern technology to increase output and quality,” he said, adding there were nine TKPMs spanning 511.95ha across five districts that were being developed to include IoT systems and mechanisation.
“This initiative, involving 86 entrepreneurs, has resulted in the production of 8,618 metric tonnes of fruits and vegetables worth RM24mil.
“By the third quarter of 2024, an additional 7,467 metric tonnes of produce valued at RM17mil was harvested.”
