LETTERS: Malaysia has about 33 million hectares of land, 0.83 million (2.5 per cent) of which are suitablefor agriculture. This shows that the nation has great potential to be self-sufficient in food production.
However, a significant portion of this land is degraded due to urbanisation, unsustainable farming practices and deforestation.
Herein lies the potential of regenerative agriculture, which aims to restore and conserve the natural functions of soil and surrounding ecosystems.
Conventional farming often depletes natural resources and relies heavily on synthetic inputs.
In contrast, regenerative agriculture focuses on boosting soil health by fostering biodiversity, promoting natural nutrient cycling and minimising the use of chemicals.
These work in harmony with nature to create a sustainable and resilient agricultural system.
Cover-cropping, crop rotation and reduced tillage are among the common regenerative techniques that farmers can adopt to restore soil vitality and make it more resilient to climatic shocks and erosion.
Regenerative agriculture offers benefits for farmers, consumers and the environment.
Healthier soils can lead to increased crop yields, allowing farmers to produce more food while reducing their dependence on expensive chemicals.
As advocated by the Global Peace Foundation Malaysia, syntropic farming or agroforestry is a low-cost regenerative farming approach based on the principles of accelerated natural ecological processes and biodiversity towards a self-sustaining ecosystem.
Agroforestry can prevent soil erosion and reverse climate change by capturing atmospheric carbon and storing it in the soil.
It can also improve soil fertility by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil.
This mitigates the impact of droughts and floods with increased water retention and enhances water-use efficiency.
Agroforestry emphasises biodiversity through the planting of diverse food crops such as banana, cassava, chilli, coconut, corn, cucumber, eggplant, jackfruit, lady's fingers, lemongrass, papaya, sweet potato and yam.
The mix of crops allows them to benefit from each other.
For example, nitrogen-fixing beans supply nutrients to corn that grows tall for the beans to climb, in turn making each other stronger.
A thriving soil ecosystem also enhances pest and disease resistance, reducing the reliance on chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides.
The high sustainability of such regenerative agriculture is well suited for small-scale subsistence farmers with minimal care and management.
This is because the soil will become healthier every crop cycle with its own organic fertiliser.
In Malaysia, where the agriculture sector contributes significantly to the economy, adopting regenerative practices can revitalise rural communities and foster sustainable growth.
Many indigenous villagers have an interest in farming their own food, but degraded soil and a lack of knowhow have hampered efforts, apart from financial constraints.
Hence, a collective effort from government agencies and non-governmental organisations is essential to promote this transition in line with the sustainable development goal of Malaysia Madani.
Let's embrace regenerative farming as the way towards a win-win-win for people, planet, and prosperity.
DR HOE-HAN GOH
Associate professor
Deputy director
Institute of Systems Biology
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times