LETTERS: THE demolition and clearing of vegetable farms in Cameron Highlands show the indifference of the state authorities to the plight of the farmers.
The farmers are experienced vegetable growers. They could have been relocated.
These farmers are going to be unemployed and deprived of an income to sustain their families.
The Pahang government could have offered these farmers alternative land on a TOL (temporary operating licence) basis or rent them land in more environment-friendly areas so as not to pollute streams and rivers or cause other pollution issues.
Land is abundant in Pahang. There is a lot of land lying idle and uncultivated. It is disappointing that the situation had come to this. It is hoped that the evicted farmers will be given plots of land elsewhere to continue with their farming activities.
Malaysia imports a lot of lowland and highland vegetables and fruits.Local agriculture needs to be sustained if not given a boost by opening up more land for farming. Malaysia’s food import bill runs into billions of ringgit. It is high time that agriculture is given priority for our economic wellbeing.
A national plan needs to be mapped out to identify large areas of presently idle but suitable arable land for agriculture and related sectors. This will help increase employment and income especially in the rural areas.
Our equatorial and tropical climate is suitable for a wide range of agriculture and the nation must press home its advantage. Malaysia’s climate is the envy of many nations that can only grow a limited range of crops.
A similar plight is also being faced by the horticultural nursery operators in Sungai Buloh especially in the vicinity of the Sungai Buloh Hospital and Jalan Subang Green Lane.
A large number of these nursery operators have been told to move out due to road widening and other development.
However, they are not given any proper relocation sites by the Selangor government.
A horticultural centre, where all these nurseries can be collectively relocated, can be an asset to Selangor. It can draw a large number of tourists as well as businesses, and can be the pride of the state.
The nursery operators possess unrivalled skills in horticulture, topiary, land rehabilitation and landscaping, an asset and an advantage that the Selangor government must use rather than letting them go to waste.
The state government needs to look at horticulture as a commercially viable and economically valuable industry that must be protected and nurtured as is being done in many countries.
During the present climate change crisis, horticulture can play a major role in the rehabilitation and greening of urban space.
V. THOMAS
Sungai Buloh, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times