Pahang tipped to become key national agri-food hub under 13MP
East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) chief executive officer Datuk Baidzawi Che Mat said Pahang, which covers more than half of the East Coast, is ideally positioned to spearhead national food production initiatives.
He said the development of the hub would attract domestic and foreign investment, create job opportunities and strengthen the agri-food value chain from farm to market.
"As an example, the Netherlands, a country roughly the size of Pahang, has become the world's second-largest agricultural exporter.
"With strategic planning and sustainable approaches, Pahang has the potential to become Malaysia's leading agri-food hub," he told Bernama recently.
Baidzawi said the hub would feature Collection, Processing and Packaging Centres (CPPCs), which would provide direct benefits to local farmers, in line with the aspirations of the National Agro-Food Policy 2.0.
He added that the CPPCs' proximity to the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) would speed up the delivery of agricultural produce to domestic and international markets, boosting competitiveness and farmers' income.
"With increased local food production and a focus on high-value crops such as durian, the hub will also help reduce the country's dependence on food imports," he said.
Baidzawi noted that flood mitigation projects under 13MP would enable agri-food projects to be developed on previously flood-prone land.
As part of this, ECERDC is collaborating with the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) to map flood-prone areas and identify flood-free agricultural zones using data-driven and satellite technology, supporting safer and more resilient food production zones.
Meanwhile, Prof Dr Mohd Faizal Jamlos from the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology Faculty at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) recommended the use of geospatial technology such as drones to produce Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) or Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) for precision mapping of agricultural land.
"These models provide valuable information to differentiate between high and low-lying areas easily. UMPSA has the technology and capability to carry out the data acquisition and processing required," he said.
Faizal noted that the food production hub represents a strategic government investment to stimulate the local economy and ensure national food security. However, he stressed that attracting industry players and agropreneurs would require a well-developed ecosystem.
Among the proposed incentives are competitive Temporary Occupation Licences (TOLs), access to basic infrastructure such as electricity, water and alternative energy sources, as well as relevant advisory services on market demand and crop suitability.
He added that tax incentives, soft loans and grants, whether in cash or kind, could further encourage private sector participation.
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in tabling 13MP last Thursday, announced that the East Coast states of Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu would be developed through the creation of integrated, competitive national food production hubs, aimed at generating new economic opportunities, particularly for rural communities.
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