Monday November 20, 2006 (the star)


Farmers urged to change mindset and welcome technology

SERI KEMBANGAN: Farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen have been reminded that their old ways in business could not uplift their economic status very much.

Instead, they should be willing to change their mindset and welcome technology and modern techniques to increase production and make the industry one of the country's main economic growth in line with the government's policy, Agriculture and Agro-based minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin.

"Unproductive, idle land and struggle against the supply of agriculture based products are the main reasons that hampers the industry's growth.

"To overcome such challenges, transformation in the usage of technology and the implementations of modern techniques are necessary.

"Think big and the potential of mass production for export and global market."

He added that traders should always remind themselves that business worth should always outweigh the source of one's income.

Muhyiddin said this at the 2006 National Farmers, Livestock and Fishermen's Convention at the Palace of the Golden Horses near here on Monday.

Later he launched the new theme for the industry "Agriculture is Business."

Also present was Nekmat's (National Agriculture Association) president Mohamad Dolmat.

On another matter, Muhyiddin said his ministry is looking seriously on the allegations made by few thousands fishermen, especially in Perak, that the Indonesian Republic Marine Police have held them captive and even seized their boats for fishing at the international waters.

"We sympathise with them and for that reason I have instructed for a complete investigation into the matter," he said.

Muhyiddin added that once the report was made available to him, he would discuss the matter with Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Syed Albar for the necessary action to be taken to steep up security for fishermen operating in international waters.

He also said caution should also be exercised in the matter so that the bilateral relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia would not be affected.
 

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