KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will be focusing on smart farming methods in the new National Agro-food Policy 2.0 (DAN 2.0) as the country aims to transform the agro-food sector.

       Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic) said DAN 2.0 will look to continue the success of the policy's first edition which was launched in 2011.

       "The National Agro-Food Policy which was launched earlier was a success. After the policy's launch, the contribution of the agro-food sector to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased with an average annual growth of 6.8% in 2020," he said.

       Ismail Sabri added that this is an almost 100% increase compared to its contribution in 2010.

       "Total food exports also increased at an average annual rate of 6.4%, from RM18.1bil to RM33.7bil for the same year," he said.

       He added that DAN 2.0 aims to continue the agro-food sector development agenda with a focus on efforts to improve the country's food security.

       "These efforts will be successful through modernisation and smart agriculture as well as strengthening the agro-food value chain," said Ismail Sabri.

       "The policy will also prioritise efforts to increase productivity as well as improve the income and quality of life of food sector producers," he added at the launch of DAN 2.0 here on Monday (Oct 25).

       Also present at the launch was Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee.

       More to come