Editorial: Outgrowing the market
Mar 6, 2006
New Straits Times

March 6 WHILE the Green Book may have drawn its inspiration from the past, the revival of the campaign to encourage people to convert their compounds into farms should not be regarded as retrograde. Neither is it a wave of the future for Malaysian agriculture, which is expected to be driven by biotechnology and ICT.

The future of food production depends on cultivating large-scale commercial farmers rather than on propagating planters growing for their own use. But the big bill for food imports and the inflationary pressure of soaring fuel prices make the socio-economic benefits of growing vegetables in the front lawn or backyard hard to ignore.

These "edible landscapes" would not only allow households to cut their grocery bills but also provide the nutritional advantages offered by self-produced food. At a personal level, home-grown food reduces the dependence on wet markets, night markets, farmers’ markets and supermarkets. At the national level, this translates into a boost in food production and less reliance on imports.

Moreover, while it is possible to eat almost any food from anywhere in the world, regardless of the season — thanks to long-distance shipping and air freight — consumers don’t really know who grows the fruits and vegetables, or how they are cultivated.

The nutritional value of food is often reduced as a result of the practice of harvesting green fruit and immature vegetables. In addition, harmful chemicals are still being used by many farmers to get rid of pests and weeds. In contrast, wholesome home-grown food is healthier and tastier.

Nevertheless, while the passion for cultivating should be fostered, there is a need to approach the fondness for keeping domestic animals with some caution. In the first place, while digging the backyard to grow vegetables has always been a legitimate activity, raising livestock behind the house is a different matter.

Indeed, keeping chickens or goats in the compound would be regarded as a defiant act by local authorities. As the current concerns about the spread of the avian flu epidemic attest, local authorities have good reasons for making it an offence to rear livestock in backyards.

There is always a need to regulate livestock practices with a view of preventing the transmission of disease from animals to humans. The objectives of the Green Book should not be allowed to come into conflict with the health aims of the municipal bylaws.

Likewise, while there is a case for putting idle land to agricultural use, the Green Book campaign should not be seen as an opportunity to farm on small strips of land which have been set aside for other purposes, such as road verges, or those which are hazardous, such as steep slopes.

The statutory restrictions on livestock in residential areas and the potential problem of uncontrolled and illegal farming suggest a need for urban planners to work more closely with horticulturists and animal scientists in finding ways to maximise the benefits of food-producing gardens and prevent health, environmental and other problems.

Those who are keen on establishing a small patch of vegetables would also benefit from free booklets which include tips on the produce best suited to their area, and advice on the most appropriate agricultural practices.

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Monday/Columns/20060306074544/Article/index_html