04 LOCAL NEWS @ AGROBiz | November-December. 2025
04 LOCAL NEWS @ AGROBiz | November-December. 2025
FAMA leads the way
THE Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority( FAMA) has broadened its collaborative network after signing 10 memorandums of understanding( MoUs) with strategic industry partners to enhance Malaysia’ s national food supply chain and the competitiveness of homegrown agri-food products.
The ceremony, held at the Perak Rural Transformation Centre( RTC) in Gopeng, brought together various stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, including government agencies, government-linked companies( GLCs), cooperatives, and academic institutions.
Those who formalised the collaboration with FAMA included KopieSatu Licensed Entrepreneurs, Grab, Amazon Web Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd( AWS), Universiti Putra Malaysia( UPM), Nable( M) Sdn Bhd, RISDA Livestock Sdn Bhd, Atlas Pacific Corporation Sdn Bhd, CDC International Sdn Bhd, Golden Merchantile International Trading Corporation, and Petronas Lubricants International Sdn Bhd.
FAMA Chairman Aminuddin Zulkipli, FAMA Director-General Abdul Rashid Bahri and Perak Rural Development, Plantations, Agricul-
DRIVING COLLABORATION: The signing ceremony at Perak RTC marked FAMA’ s continued efforts to boost market efficiency and food resilience.
ture and Food Industry Committee Chairman Datuk Zolkafly Harun attended the event.
Speaking at the event, Aminuddin said the collaboration was key to driving innovation and improving efficiency across the agri-food chain. He noted that partnerships such as these would help address current industry challenges, including fluctuating production costs, global competition, and the effects of climate change.
“ These MoUs are not merely symbolic signatures on paper, but rather a manifestation of FAMA’ s and its partners’ commitment to expand market reach and enhance the efficiency of the agri-food value chain,” he said.
He further highlighted the need for FAMA to adapt and modernise in line with shifting global trends:“ It is important to remember that the world is changing rapidly, and the agri-food sector is no exception. FAMA must continue to evolve, from being a market management agency to becoming a strategic market development agency.”
Through these new alliances, FAMA plans to implement datadriven marketing approaches, open more market opportunities, and empower entrepreneurs through technology and training.
“ FAMA acts as a coordinator, facilitator, and market enabler, connecting producers and consumers holistically from farm to market,” Aminuddin said, adding that the initiative aligned with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’ s vision for a competitive and sustainable agri-food sector.
ASF threatens tiger habitat
THE outbreak of African Swine Fever( ASF) has emerged as a major ecological concern in the Endau-Rompin Landscape, Johor, decimating wild boar and bearded pig populations that serve as the primary food sources for the Malayan tigers.
The Malaysian Wildlife Conservation Society( WCS) revealed that the virus, first detected in 2022, has had devastating effects not only on wildlife but also on surrounding human settlements. Researcher Yugess Rao said data gathered through extensive fieldwork indicated a drastic decline in prey species.
“ Camera data from 2019 to 2023 shows a population decline of 99.6 per cent for bearded pigs and 81.6 per cent for wild boars,” she told Bernama at the recent Asian Society of Conservation Medicine Conference here. The ASCM 2025 conference, held in Oct in Kota Bharu, gathered around 200 experts from 15 countries to discuss regional wildlife and conservation efforts.
Her team, using over 300 camera traps, documented a sharp drop in sightings and even found carcasses of 11 wild boars and seven bearded pigs in 2022.
Yugess explained:“ The lack of natural food sources has caused Malayan tigers to start adapting by looking for new food sources outside the forest, including attacking cattle owned by residents.”
This shift in behaviour has raised concerns about increased humantiger conflicts and economic losses among local farmers who have lost livestock. WCS Malaysia, she said, has taken several steps to mitigate the issue, including disease surveillance, community collaboration, and the construction of tiger-proof cattle pens.
She added that signs of recovery have begun to emerge.“ Incidents of tiger attacks on humans and livestock also recorded a significant drop between 2024 and 2025,” Yugess said, citing a 2024 study that showed
WILDLIFE UNDER THREAT: The dense forests of Endau-Rompin remain a crucial habitat for Malayan tigers amid growing conservation challenges.
new births among pig and tiger populations.
She urged that future conservation strategies be implemented comprehensively, addressing ecological, economic and social dimensions to sustain the balance between wildlife and local communities in Endau-Rompin.- @ AGROBiz