KUALA LUMPUR, February 7 – The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities will focus on allocations and research and development (R&D) in order to market national products internationally in Budget 2023, said Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. He who is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities said, this is necessary because the country is too dependent on imports and at the same time it is necessary to ensure that product acceptance can be maintained.
“Therefore we need the involvement and appointment of foreign experts for us to consult and ensure our products are accepted. In addition to working with large industrial companies, we also have to look at small farmers, that’s why in the context of this timber we need to look at community plantations in addition to new products such as cannabis, if it can be used as one of the commodities,” he said in the Naratif Khas program with the Deputy Prime Minister broadcast live by RTM tonight.
Meanwhile, he said, many efforts have already been made and will continue to be implemented by the government, for example introducing standards that are close to international standards to fulfill all sustainability and sustainability commitments. At the Malaysian level, we have indeed given a commitment not to open new plantations, which means that the forests will no longer be explored but what will be there is a migration from coconut to oil palm, involving small farmers.
“What may be challenging is how these smallholders can meet the standards that have been set. In Malaysia we have introduced Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) at the international level, there is also a Sustainable Palm Oil Round Table (RSPO), so that we will be able to market our products,” he said. He said, Malaysia will discuss with Indonesia next week on how to formulate a strategy so that this matter gets the attention of the European Union (EU). – BERNAMA
