THE National Farmers’ Association (Nafas) signed three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) yesterday, including forging international cooperation with seven state-owned enterprises from China, to support the government’s national food security agenda.

Nafas chairman Zamri Yaakob said the deal would include smart agriculture, new product development, mechanisation, and the use of drone technology.

“The padi seeds produced using the technology from China are able to produce a higher yield of up to 20 metric tonnes.

“This will in turn help us in realising the government’s target of achieving 75% self-sufficiency in local rice production, thus reducing dependence on imported rice,” he said at the launch of the 7th Nafas annual general meeting last night.

He added that the subsequent investment could also increase the production of chicken, meat and vegetables for the export market.

Zamri said Nafas also signed two MOUs with the Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YaPEIM) and China’s Southeast Edible Bird’s Nest Capital Biotechnology Co. Ltd.

“Using the National Farmers Fund, we will invest in YaPEIM’s Ar-Rahnu project through co-branding with the mudharabah (partnership) concept for selected branches.

“The objective is to provide shariah-based micro-credit facilities to (livestock) breeders, obtain business capital and resources for other productive activities to develop the economy of the ummah,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the MOU with Southeast Edible Bird’s Nest Capital Biotechnology would involve the export of raw unclean bird nests for both countries. – Bernama, November 26, 2021.