Food security is a matter of national security: Ahmad Zahid

PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the prerequisite to sustain food security in the country is a matter of national security.
There had been too many cases where when a war stricken country collapses one of the main things that is unavailable is food.
"Food is unavailable simply because the national security is compromised," he added in his keynote address at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations 33rd Regional conference for Asia and the Pacific (FAO APRC).
He said in his capacity as Home Minister he remains committed to ensuring that national as well as regional security are strengthened and maintained.
The government has outlined three approaches to ensure food security and sovereignty in the nation, he said.
He added they are to stimulate private sector investment in agriculture, address climate change with sustainable agriculture and reduce poverty by utilising biodiversity.
He said the government continued to address the issue of poverty through the National Economic Policy which is implemented under the 5-year Economic Development Plan.
"The policy has resulted in the reduction of aggregate poverty from 8.9% to 1.7% in the period of 17 years between 1995 to 2012 through effective land reform and poverty eradication programmes," he added.