Challenges Innovation As Enabler In In Malaysia’s Developing Agrotourism Agrotourism Industry Products Pg2 Pg3 Apr 2015 Vol: 005 ISSN 2289-6511 9 772289 651006 Malaysia And FAO Strengthen Agrotechnology Parks As MARDI Orchid Hybrids Synchronized Flowering of Tecoma, Partnership Platforms For Agrotourism the Malaysian Cherry Blossoms Pg2 Pg5 Pg6 Pg9 Agrotourism In Malaysia: Direction And Development Strategy Malaysia, contributing 16.1% of the Gross Generally, agrotourism refers to the well as tourism segments. By: Dr. Chubashini Suntharalingam, Domestic Product in 2013 and supporting involvement of agricultural activities for Among the goals of the roadmap is to Rosnani Harun and Nik Rozana Nik Mohd 1.9 million jobs. the purpose of enjoyment and education. make agrotourism as a source of income Masdek, Economic and Technology Between 1998 and 2013, the number of Agrotourism in Malaysia has assisted for local communities. Management Research Centre, MARDI international tourists increased by ap- local communities, such as farmers, Most agrotourism entrepreneurs are proximately five folds, from 5.6 million educate visitors on farming activities and locals in rural communities and this has to 25.7 million. During the same period, in return the farmers are compensated for the potential for increasing the income of income generated by the arrival of in- the services offered. rural communities. The sector is being grotourism is a subsector of the ternational tourists also increased from A good roadmap and clear strategy developed with a variety of products based travel and tourism industry RM8.6 billion to RM65.44 billion. is crucial in any effort to develop on education, agriculture, food, health, that has huge potential and can A Venturing into agrotourism as a di- agrotourism under the National Agrofood homestays, exhibitions, handicrafts, faith increase farmers income regardless of versification strategy has brought great Policy 2011 - 2020. A clear roadmap will and culture. where they are. opportunities and advantages to the nation’s help ensure that this important sector The tourism industry is one of the tourism sector. Agrotourism is also commonly remains robust, competitive and relevant fastest growing economic sectors in termed as ecotourism or rural tourism. in further developing the agricultural as More on page 8 Fruit Farm Agrotourism to various agriculture-based This park attracted tourists By: Adam H. Gerten @ Gerten attractions and even farms from all corners of the world and anak Dominic, MARDI Bintulu, where tourists get a feel of some have fallen in love with it Dr. Salma Idris, MARDI Serdang, farming life as well as tasting and made the park their regular Pearlycia Brooke, Department of the produce grown on location. vacation stop and became brand Agriculture, Sarawak Abroad there are farm stays ambassadors by promoting it to where tourists get to experience their friends. actual farm life by taking part The Penang Tropical griculture is Business’ is in the daily activities while in Fruit Farm is an example of a the slogan for strength- Malaysia some farmers have privately developed agrotourism ‘A ening the agricultural turned their fruit farms into fruit farm and it features more sector under the Ninth tourist attractions. than 250 types of local exotic Malaysia Plan, encompassing MARDI Langkawi Agrotech- fruits in 25 acres. commercial and biotechnology nology Park is an example of an aspects and not just generating agrotourism attraction with 20 income through the sale of farm species of commercial and wild products. Agrotourism is part of fruits, seasonal and non-seasonal More on page 3 the business of agriculture. local fruits such as durian, Agrotourism is not new in rambutan, mango, jackfruit, wax Malaysia, attracting tourists apples and many more. 2 Apr 2015 VIEW POINT Challenges In Malaysia’s Agrotourism Industry related to food, agriculture, livestock also attract foreign visitors and fishery that can be developed into Although agrotourism is relatively innovative agrotourism products and young in this country, it has the events. potential to provide handsome returns For example, we can have Food to the economy and should be further Festivals celebrating our varied food explored. tradition, a Harvest Fiesta that shares In 2009, agrotourism contributed 4% our colourful harvest traditions and to the country’s tourism industry and it cultures and Orchid Fiesta to showcase is expected to rise to 6% by 2020 and the the many beautiful orchid varieties. number of agrotourists are expected to We can even have a Squid Catching rise from 2 million in 2013 to 6 million Festival to share how this favourite in 2020. seafood is caught or we can have a Fruit In line with the theme of the 2015 Buffet Week to get tourists to try out budget which puts emphasis on the our delicious tropical fruits or even an people, the development of agrotourism event involving rice planting to teach should also focus on the people’s how Asia’s most important staple is economy and we have chosen the cultivated. theme “Agrotourism: New Source of Such fiestas can be developed into a Prosperity” to reflect this. tourism brand and event and must be Agrotourism should help improve the income of farmers, breeders and he tourism sector is key to the tourism infrastructures and even listed in the country’s tourism calendar. fishermen, open new job opportunities country’s economic growth and in declared the year as Visit Malaysia Year. Creativity and innovation is crucial and encourage the growth of associated 2013 it contributed RM65.4 billion When tabling the 2015 budget, the in any activity, including agrotourism T activities. to our Gross Domestic Product through Prime Minister, who is also the Finance and the players must come up with For example, tourists to Cameron tourist spending and foreign exchange. Minister allocated RM316 million for products, brand them and market them. Highlands helped to improve the sale Tourist arrivals rose 2.7% in 2013 to tourism and declared this year as While the government does what of local agricultural products and the 25.7 million compared to 25 million in ‘Malaysia - Year of Festivals 2015’ it can to develop agrotourism, the tourist trade accounts for 25% or RM150 the previous year. In the first quarter of and we are expected to attract 29.4 private sector must pitch in by creating million in sales of vegetables, flowers 2014, Malaysia hosted 7.1 million inter- million foreign tourists and bring in new products and activities that are and other agricultural products. national tourists and this is almost 10% RM89 billion. innovative and can attract visitors. I hope the National Seminar on more than the 6.45 million tourists who In line with this development, the Agrotourism in Malaysia still relies Agrotourism 2014 will spur new ideas arrived during the same period in 2013. challenge for the Government and heavily on domestic visitors and the and developments in the industry and The government continues to the private sector is to transform country’s constantly improving living give birth to new initiatives that can strengthen the tourism industry and agrotourism and lift it to the same level standards means that our local tourists react quickly to the rapid development allocated RM2 billion in 2014 to build of importance as the other tourism sub- have higher expectations than before . of the industry. sectors. Therefore, agrotourism products It is my wish to see everyone take should be developed to take into advantage of the Government’s focus on account their desires and expectations tourism and make ‘Malaysia - Year of and a detailed study on this would be DATO’ SRI ISMAIL SABRI YAAKOB Festivals 2015’ a success. very useful to the industry. Although Minister of Agriculture and The agrotourism sub-sector has emphasis should be given to domestic Agro-based Industry many festivals or fiestas that are tourists, agrotourism products must National Agrotourism Seminar 2014 Advisor • Dato’ Dr. Sharif Haron (Director General MARDI) Malaysia And FAO Strengthen MARDI Editorial Team Partnership • Dr. Mohamad Roff Mohd Noor • Dr. Ainu Husna MS Suhaimi • Rohani Md Yon • Maheswary Vellupillai • Norhafizah Mohd Yusof • Muhammad Zahid Azmi Copywriter • Shamsul Bahari Mohd Yunos Designer • Sham Hosni Art Director • Spice Communications Sdn Bhd STRONGER TIES – FAO representation, Senior MOA Officials and MARDI officers at the ‘Strengthening Malaysia – FAO For enquiries, please contact Cooperation Workshop’ Scientia MARDI food and agriculture as well as poverty African countries to overcome extreme MARDI Headquarters, By: Dario Gilmozzi reduction. With its policies and trans- poverty and hunger. Persiaran MARDI-UPM, FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy formation programmes, in the past To translate the interest expressed 43400 Serdang Selangor, two decades or so, Malaysia has made by Minister of Agriculture and tremendous progress in agricultural Agro-Based Industry and the FAO Tel : 603-8943 7317 n September 2014, FAO Director Fax : 603-8984 3664 development, poverty reduction and Director General into reality, the Email : [email protected] General Jose’ Graziano da Silva food security. In fact, by 2014, Malaysia Malaysian Permanent Representative [email protected] Ivisited Malaysia to discuss a had already achieved the hunger target in Rome, senior Government officials number of issues of common interest. set by the first Millennium Development from Ministry of Agriculture and Recognising Malaysia’s achievements Goal MDG-1 “to reduce by 2015 at least Agro-Based Industry (MOA), and FAO especially in eradicating poverty and by half the proportion of people in the senior officials, have enhanced their hunger, through innovative transfor- country suffering from undernourish- collaborative efforts. In November 2014, mation programmes, the FAO Director ment”. For this reason, on 30 November an FAO delegation visited Malaysia and General and the Minister of Agriculture 2014, FAO officially awarded Malaysia in December 2014, this was reciprocated and Agro-Based Industry, Dato’ Sri for reaching the MDG-1 target.