The Importance of Decision-Making in Land Use and Land Management in Ensuring Food Security in Malaysia

Abstract

Agricultural sector has been the main contributor of economic growth in Malaysia for decades. The industrial crops such as oil palm, cocoa and rubber are the major contributors that had led the growth of its economy, which inadvertently made the food sector considerably outdistanced. Findings show that mismatch priority as the primary factor which led to the minimum agro-food production. Policymakers seem insensible to the importance of food sector in comparison to the lucrative industrial crops sector. Limited land for food crops is one of the factors that has led to the unproductive domestic supply and high dependence on food import. In addition, there is no legal restriction on converting agricultural lands for use of industrial development be it for industrial crops and/ or other commercial and/ or economic activities. The National Land Code 1965 does not stipulate any restriction for the land proprietor to apply for conversion of agriculture to non-agricultural use of land. Thus, this proves that there is no protection in law for agricultural lands to be converted for industrial and/ or commercial use. Ensuring enough nutritious food supply is crucial to the country’s growth and survival. This research is mainly conducted to study how flexibility in land use decision making and management can contribute towards food security in Malaysia. The study would include a wide range of considerations especially in, sufficient and productive use of land for food cultivation. The study on food security in this country in relation to sustainable land management has relatively not been conducted yet, to the knowledge of authors. Thus, this study attempts to fill the gap.