The Perak government has urged the people in the state to grow vegetables and rear livestock for their own consumption in light of the current food supply shortage.
According to Bernama, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said this initiative could not only reduce the burden of the rising cost of living but the surplus could be sold to generate income.
“That’s why I have been campaigning at various places in the state on this so that what we want to eat, we plant or breed the produce ourselves so as not to rely so much on imports,” he said.
He said this to the reporters after attending the Agrofest programme of the Perak State Agriculture Development Corporation (SADC) on Tuesday (31 May).
He also said that State Agriculture Department will work with Perak SADC to develop the Manong Agrotechnology Park Project in Kuala Kangsar on 40 hectares.
“The SADC has also started the Perak Halal Hub project to further boost food security and provide employment while helping the state government generate economic opportunities for the people,” said Saarani.
Dulu harga daging mahal, rakyat disuruh makan ikan. Ikan mahal, disuruh makan ayam. Skrg ayam mahal, nak suruh makan apa pulak? Kenapa rakyat mesti jatuhkan taraf hidup sendiri? Rakyat tak layak ke hidup selesa, makan benda berkhasiat?
— Lipas 🏴 (@havzichiori) May 27, 2022
His remarks have since sparked outrage on social media with many criticising that his idea will not be successful in city environments.
Netizens said that growing food right in your backyard is all well and good, but until you had to deal with animal poop. This would definitely raise tensions in a neighbourhood.
In addition, the lack of space is also a main challenge for city dwellers to grow their own food.
Meanwhile, there are also laws that restrict people from urban farming and keeping livestock, where people can be fined for doing so. It is considered a serious offence as it involves public health and hygiene.
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