TITLE: REVIEW OF MALAYSIA AGRICULTURE POLICIES WITH REGARDS TO SUSTAINABILITY

Introduction

 WHAT IS AGRICULTURE?

Agriculture plays an essential role in sustaining and driving the economy. It’s the backbone of
everything that drives us. In addition to providing food and other raw materials, it also provides
employment opportunities.

 ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN HUMAN LIFE?

Agriculture plays a critical role in the entire life of a given economy. Agriculture is the backbone of
the economic system of a given country. In addition to providing food and raw material, agriculture
also provides employment opportunities to a very large percentage of the population.

 WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE?

Sustainable agriculture is farming in sustainable ways, which means meeting society's present food
and textile needs, without compromising the ability for current or future generations to meet their
needs. sustainable agriculture approach seeks to utilize natural resources in such a way that they can
regenerate their productive capacity, and also minimize harmful impacts on ecosystems beyond a
field's edge. Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals – environmental health, economic
profitability, and social equity 

DIMENSIONS OF THE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

-Economic dimension

 Since agriculture employs many people, it contributes to economic development. As a result, the
national income level, as well as people’s standard of living, is improved. The fast rate of
development in the agriculture sector offers progressive outlook as well as increased motivation
for development. Hence, it aids to create a good atmosphere for the overall economic
development of a country. Therefore, economic development relies on the agricultural growth
rate.

-Social & Community dimension

 Human activities and management practices form and preserve agricultural biodiversity, and a
large number of people depend on agricultural biodiversity for sustainable livelihoods. Such
dimensions include traditional and local awareness of agricultural biodiversity, participatory
processes, and cultural factors, as well as tourism associated with agricultural landscapes.
-Environmental dimension

•The environmental impact of agriculture is the effect that different farming practices have on
the ecosystems around them, and how those effects can be traced back to those practices. The
environmental impact of agriculture varies based on the wide variety of agricultural practices
employed around the world. Ultimately, the environmental impact depends on the production
practices of the system used by farmers. The connection between emissions into the
environment and the farming system is indirect, as it also depends on other climate variables
such as rainfall and temperature. Some other factors can include types of machinery used for
agriculture purposes as well as the farmer's choice of how they handle their livestock. The
environmental impact of agriculture involves a variety of factors from the soil, to water, the air,
animal and soil variety, people, plants, and the food itself. Some of the environmental issues
that are related to agriculture are climate change, deforestation, dead zones, genetic
engineering, irrigation problems, pollutants, soil degradation, and waste.

The 3rd National Agriculture Policy (1998-2010)

WHY DID THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCE THE THIRD NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL POLICY?

 To increase productivity
 To increase competitiveness of the sector
 To deepen linkages with other sectors
 To create new sources of growth for the sector
 To conserve & utilize natural resources on a sustainable basis

Strategies in Malaysia to Sustain Agricultural Development

 Optimizing resources use

 Accelerated agro-based industry development
 Enhancement of research & development efforts and technological diffusion
 Greater role of the private sector
 Reform of marketing strategy
 Expanded food production
 Human resource development
 Development of viable and self-reliant farmers and fishermen’s institutions
 Restructuring management capacity and including greater ‘bumiputra’ participation

Conclusion

Social, economic, and environmental sustainability are closely intertwined and necessary
components for a truly sustainable agriculture. For example, farmers faced with poverty are often
forced to mine natural resources like soil fertility to make ends meet, even though environmental
degradation may hurt their livelihoods in the long run. Only by creating policies that integrate social,
environmental, and economic interests can societies promote more sustainable agricultural systems.