KADA, NAFAS Boost National Agriculture Through Tautan Tani Programme

KOTA BHARU, July 24 (Bernama) -- The collaboration between the Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (KADA) and the National Farmers Organisation (NAFAS) is expected to strengthen the country's agricultural sector through the enhancement of input supply chains and more structured, strategic capacity-building for farmers, said KADA chairman Khalid Abdul Samad.

He expressed appreciation to NAFAS for its willingness to be KADA's key strategic partner in implementing the Tautan Tani programme, which he described as an essential platform for elevating the status of the agricultural sector.

"The close cooperation between KADA and NAFAS is a timely and strategic move to ensure national food security, especially in today's context, which demands multi-stakeholder collaboration to address the challenges of the agro-food sector.

"I am confident that the combination of KADA's expertise in area development and human capital, along with NAFAS' strength in logistics and agricultural input supply chains, can create a more sustainable, productive, and competitive agricultural ecosystem," he said during today's launch of the Tautan Tani programme here.

Khalid said such programmes are a manifestation of both agencies' commitment to strengthening agricultural knowledge and practices among farmers, while also promoting a thriving culture of collaboration within the industry.

"The initiative of organising product introduction talks and factory visits is an effective effort to augment farmers' understanding of the agricultural input value chain, while also raising awareness on the proper and efficient use of fertilisers.

"Farmers must be informed consumers who understand fertiliser contents, the functions of nutrients and their impact on crop yields, and the use of pesticides that must adhere to safety guidelines to ensure quality harvests and environmental protection," he said.

He said that the briefing that KADA conducted on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) is crucial in ensuring that the country's agricultural produce meets international standards to penetrate the global market.

"The sharing sessions by farmers are also significant as they provide opportunities to learn from one another, share successes, techniques, and innovations from the field, which are often more practical than theory alone," he said.

He added that the Tautan Tani programme is a meaningful collaborative effort between KADA, NAFAS, and the farming community, ultimately positioning agriculture as a modern and progressive sector.

-- BERNAMA