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The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia-Thailand collaboration in agriculture set for major expansion
BANGKOK, May 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is committed to renewing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Agricultural Cooperation with Thailand, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu. He stated that the Malaysia-Thailand MoU, which has been in place for over 50 years, requires a comprehensive review and improvement of most of its terms. "The MoU reflects our shared goals of strengthening bilateral collaboration in areas such as sustainable agriculture, technology transfer, research, and food security. "We have submitted our latest draft of the MoU to the Thai ministry, and we hope to receive their feedback soon," he told Bernama on Friday. Earlier, Mohamad, who led the Malaysian delegation on a four-day working visit to Thailand, made a courtesy call on Thailand's Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, Narumon Pinyosinwat, before both parties held a bilateral meeting. Mohamad noted that Malaysia, aims to achieve a higher self-sufficiency level in agricultural production by 2030. This goal is to be realised through a sustainable, resilient, and technology-driven agro-food industry that prioritises food security. "Our discussions today reaffirm the strong and enduring partnership between Malaysia and Thailand in the agriculture sector. "I am encouraged by the shared commitment to deepen our collaboration and address common challenges in food security, sustainable agriculture, and innovation," he said. He also highlighted that Thailand is Malaysia's main trading partner in the agri-food sector and selected agricultural products. "Bilateral agricultural trade between Malaysia and Thailand continued to show positive performance in 2024, with the total trade value of agricultural products reaching RM20.96 billion. "This trade trend highlights the growing potential of food and agricultural product trade and demonstrates significant opportunities for both countries to further elevate the value of agricultural trade," he added. Later, Mohamad officiated the Malaysian Pavilion at the THAIFEX-Anuga Asia 2025, Asia's premier food and beverage trade show. Approximately 137 Malaysian companies participated in the trade show, held at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani from May 27 to 31. -- Bernama
The Star
10-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Royal ritual predicts a good year ahead
Timeless tradition: Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry Secretary Prayoon Inskul scattering rice grains during the ceremony. — Reuters KING Maha Vajiralongkorn presided over an elaborate annual ceremony that marks the start of the rice-planting season and honours the nation's farmers. The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is held to read auguries that predict the farming conditions for the year ahead. As is usually the case, good times were predicted, even though Thailand's economy is sluggish. The King and Queen Suthida were sheltered from the bright sun by ornate umbrellas at the ceremony's traditional venue, Sanam Luang, or 'Royal Ground', a large field near the Grand Palace in Bangkok yesterday. According to Thai historians, the ritual goes back some 700 years. Then, as now, the cultivation of rice was central to the country's culture and economy, and the ceremony is meant to give encouragement to farmers as the new planting season begins. The ceremony was led by the highest-ranking civil servant in the Agriculture Ministry, serving as the Lord of the Ploughing Ceremony. In a colourful traditional costume, he chose from a selection of cloths, and the one he picked was interpreted to signify satisfactory rainfall and an abundant harvest. In the ceremony's second stage, he anointed the heads of two 'sacred' oxen, which then pulled a plough around a section of the field several times, as he scattered seeds at the front of a small procession with more traditionally garbed participants. The two oxen, called 'Por' and 'Piang' - which together mean 'sufficiency' – then chose from a selection of food offered by Brahmin priests. The oxen chose water, grass and liquor, which symbolise adequate water supplies, abundance of food supplies and what was interpreted as good international trade, respectively. After the departure of the king and queen, onlookers sprinted onto the field to collect the scattered seeds as souvenirs or to add to their own rice stores at home for a meritorious mix. — AP
