KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia aims to learn from India’s experience in implementing food security policies as it drafts the National Food Security Act, focusing on strategic buffer stock management, distribution systems and supply chain governance.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) said in a statement today that Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu conveyed this during a courtesy call on India’s Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi.
During the meeting, Malaysia also expressed appreciation for India’s role as a major trading partner and supplier of critical commodities such as rice, meat and onions.
"Cooperation between both nations in strengthening seed bank capacities will also be initiated," the ministry said.
Mohamad led the Malaysian delegation to the ninth ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AIMMAF) held in New Delhi yesterday.
KPKM said the meeting discussed the impact of global uncertainties on the food, agriculture and forestry sectors, as well as forms of cooperation between ASEAN member states and India.
The AIMMAF session focused on regional initiatives to address geopolitical, economic, climate change, and market volatility challenges in energy and agricultural inputs to ensure food security and supply chain continuity.
"The meeting also reviewed achievements under the Medium-Term Action Plan for ASEAN-India Cooperation in Agriculture and Forestry (2021-2025) and considered approving the new action plan for 2026-2030," according to the statement.
Progress on projects under the ASEAN-India Working Group on Agriculture and Forestry was also highlighted, including 50 annual ASEAN-India Fellowships offered at Indian agricultural universities and post-harvest technology capacity-building programmes.
The meeting welcomed proposals for new capacity-building programmes leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning for precision agriculture scheduled for late 2026 or early 2027, in addition to a Farmers' Exchange Programme for Indian and ASEAN farmers.
Singapore will host the 10th AIMMAF meeting next year.
-- BERNAMA