Johor Records Highest Agricultural Sector Sales Of RM27.2 Bilion

ISKANDAR PUTERI, June 24 (Bernama) -- Johor continues to strengthen its position as the leader in the agricultural sector when it successfully recorded the highest sales value of RM27.2 billion last year.

State Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said the amount involved sales of crop sub-sector of RM20.9 billion, livestock (RM4.7 billion), aquaculture (RM1 billion) and fisheries (RM7 million).

"Johor continues to strengthen its position as a leader in the country's agricultural sector when it successfully recorded the highest sales value based on the latest statistics from the interim findings of the 2024 Agricultural Census by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

"This achievement not only reflects the fundamental strength of the agricultural sector in Johor, but is also the result of strategic planning and collaboration, the implementation of comprehensive policies and close cooperation between the state government and the federal government, implementing agencies, investors and all entrepreneurs who are the backbone of the development of this sector.

He told reporters after chairing the Johor State Food Security Working Committee Meeting at Dato' Jaafar Muhammad Building Operations Room here today.

He also expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) which has channeled an allocation of RM23.4 million as support to strengthen the implementation of various high-impact initiatives and programmes.

Meanwhile, he said the state government is formulating several strategies to ensure that players in the agriculture and food security sector are not left out of the rapid development trend in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

He said a series of workshops and engagement sessions are being implemented to comprehensively discuss protection and support measures for agricultural sector entrepreneurs so that they remain relevant in the state's long-term development plan.

He said that as an initial step, Johor is driving several high-impact projects including the development of modern agricultural activities such as 'vertical farming' between a local company and a company from Singapore.

"We are studying how the government can protect those involved in the agriculture and food security sectors so that they are not left out of this development.

"We are drawing up a plan so that we can present to the government how to attract investors related to food security including providing incentives to enable them to invest in southern Johor under the JS-SEZ area," he said.

-- BERNAMA