IT IS with great interest that I read an article recently titled, "Tradewinds Plan Stirs Concerns" featured in a newspaper on July 23. The article highlighted Tradewinds Plantation Bhd's proposal to be involved in the country's food supply chain, hence providing its services as the central importer.
Among other things proposed, Tradewinds aims to reduce foreign control in the country's food supply of certain commodities as well as ensuring that the commodity's "Food Security" is guaranteed. However, without support from the government, it will be hard for Tradewinds to make significant breakthroughs and long-term change.
It is also shocking to know that our country's food supply is controlled by foreign entities and if we were to face a food crisis, we would not have enough food stock to even last us for a month.
The article also pointed out the five major grain storage operators in the country are 95% (equivalent to 13 out of 14 mills) foreign-controlled. This is similar to a somewhat cartel related scenario. Imagine our grain imports are fully dependent on these companies.
I strongly believe that the government should work together with Tradewinds to move forward with the stockpiling and set up a central importer. We have practised a similar concept with Bernas for rice and the formula has proven to work well all these years. As far as I can remember we have never experienced any shortage of rice supply despite the previous global food crisis or even when we had issues with poor paddy yield. This concept also ensures that commodity prices can be controlled and mitigated.
It may be possible for the country, especially the public, to obtain substantial benefits if the government proceeds to take steps in introducing the concept of central importers through public-private partnerships.
If a private company is willing to assist the government in centralising and taking responsibility why is this considered bad? Isn't the government supposed to be encouraging more towards public-private partnerships? Are we as a nation backtracking from moving forward as these kinds of partnerships are no longer considered valid?
Syima Zainal Abidin
Selangor
Among other things proposed, Tradewinds aims to reduce foreign control in the country's food supply of certain commodities as well as ensuring that the commodity's "Food Security" is guaranteed. However, without support from the government, it will be hard for Tradewinds to make significant breakthroughs and long-term change.
It is also shocking to know that our country's food supply is controlled by foreign entities and if we were to face a food crisis, we would not have enough food stock to even last us for a month.
The article also pointed out the five major grain storage operators in the country are 95% (equivalent to 13 out of 14 mills) foreign-controlled. This is similar to a somewhat cartel related scenario. Imagine our grain imports are fully dependent on these companies.
I strongly believe that the government should work together with Tradewinds to move forward with the stockpiling and set up a central importer. We have practised a similar concept with Bernas for rice and the formula has proven to work well all these years. As far as I can remember we have never experienced any shortage of rice supply despite the previous global food crisis or even when we had issues with poor paddy yield. This concept also ensures that commodity prices can be controlled and mitigated.
It may be possible for the country, especially the public, to obtain substantial benefits if the government proceeds to take steps in introducing the concept of central importers through public-private partnerships.
If a private company is willing to assist the government in centralising and taking responsibility why is this considered bad? Isn't the government supposed to be encouraging more towards public-private partnerships? Are we as a nation backtracking from moving forward as these kinds of partnerships are no longer considered valid?
Syima Zainal Abidin
Selangor