AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY REDUCES 165,698 FOREIGN WORKERS

KUCHING (Malaysia), Feb 14 (Bernama) -- The use of technology and new mechanisms
in agriculture introduced by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry
(MOA) has reduced the use of labour especially foreign labour by 165,698 workers
last year, said its deputy minister Rohani Karim.

She said to increase yield of the country's main commodities like rice,
meat, vegetables and fish, the ministry had given various subsidies besides
giving advice; provided technology on planting and breeding; developed
agricultural infrastructure; gave fertiliser subsidy; and provided marketing
opportunities.

"These steps gave initiative to local farmers to increase agicultural yield
and provided opportunities to farmers to conduct their operations to increase
their income," Rohani said in her speech in capital city of Kuching in East
Malaysia of Sarawak state Saturday to officiate the 41st annual
conference of the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) organised by the MOA,
DID and the Malaysian National Committee on Irrigation & Drainage (MANCID).

She said the involvement of the younger generation in the new technologies
and mindsets in the agricultural sector was also important for the country's
future.

According to her, now most of the farmers were elderly in their 60s and
above and could not meet the needs and demands of the country food supply
presently and in the future.

Rohani said through the National Food Security Policy an additional
allocation of RM3 billion by the government could increase the national rice
yield from 73 per cent sufficiency in 2008 to 86 per cent by 2010.

"This increase is important as the country still imports 657,900 tonnes of
rice and this burdens the country's finances," she said.

She said an additional allocation through the National Food Security Policy
would also be used to implement maintenance work and infrastructure development
in and outside the country's rice bowls covering an area of 426,260he.

--BERNAMA