Introduction
Frequent rural development synonym
with agricultural development which gives extremely narrow focus. The objective
convergence is merely direction increase of agricultural productivity
regardless how development enjoyed by society widely. Furthermore, social
welfare overall not given attention by serious.
Modern economy dominated by system
oriented capitalist system with gives attention to major exports commodity
production in agriculture namely rubber and tin ore. Meanwhile, traditional economics
with a character little small farmer agriculture sector get attention from
state.
Agriculture
sector undeniably is most important sector to developing countries like
Malaysia. In fact it is between central feature distinctive status between
developing countries and developed countries. This sector also had contributed
to Malaysian economy basis of formation in era after independence which at that
time, concentrated a majority of the population to agriculture-based economic
activity and mining.
Problem which arise in agricultural
community reasonable to be scrutinized directly or indirect development process
result nowadays. Problems occur in agricultural community are earthen, labour
force and technology use.
As agriculture sector scope very big
but discussion space is limited, discussion in this working paper will more
emphasized on sub-sector more with problem, agricultural land, labour force and
technology usage.
Agricultural Land
Land or property according law term was part of topography may be
specified his ownership rights. According to Knetsch
(1983), as cited in Fatimah Mohd. Arshad and Mad Nasir Shamsudin in
Agricultural Land Food Security and Issue “These rights was not just confined
to surface area only covered things above its such as tree, building and those
repairs was done by squire and also worth thing on the surface or under said
land”.
Due to this each deserved individual to own land to carry
production activity. In land agriculture sector is main capital shall belong by
farmer to carry out their agricultural activity.
In land agriculture sector is main capital shall belong by farmer
to carry out their agricultural activity. However yet agriculture sector still
facing inside problem a few issue either problem to seek agricultural land
area, or idle land problem after land ownership right in possessed by farmer.
In effort optimize land utilization and achieve high productivity,
existence idle agricultural land concerned all parties. This concern
understandable when we think that agricultural land is limited resources in
Peninsular Malaysia due to rapid progression in non-agriculture sector.
According to YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (2002), in National Land Convention,
“Data of Agriculture Ministry and Tani’s Basis shows that property agricultural
land idle farmer and suitable to be developed over Peninsular Malaysia until
year 2002 is as wide as hectares”. According to Salwa Syed Akil (2002), in her
study entitled Agricultural Land Roots Idle In District Kuala Pilah, Negeri
Sembilan, she found that “This area is 35 percent from total hectares idle
agricultural land nationwide which involves rice field lands and also upland”.
Existences this idle land problem not just detrimental income for
farming families in fact it follows affect production and national income.
Industrial sector and housing rapid expansion in Malaysia tackles
limited land supply had aroused two symptom namely first, competition upper
land resource and second, increase in land price. This case fomented to farmer
for them get agricultural land to carry their agricultural activity.
Agricultural land price increase was the result of demand and
supply interaction said land. From demand perspective, there was some factor
which resulted demand on improving soil. Among them was population of people,
infrastructure development and area expansion, facility flexibility finance to
purchase land and industrial, business and tourism promotion.
From supply perspective also, apart from real land physical
limitation, institutional constraint also influenced land price. Between
institution factor limit land area can be developed are included zoning,
condition - tight development condition, process or land use approval procedures
for purposes of development too long and long, land titles and government
policy problem in connection with source retention and conservation for purpose
steady and eternal development.
Agricultural land price increase bringing some change from consumption
pattern aspect said land. Demand competition of manufacturing sector has
prompted to use of land which would give highest and best return such as land
development for housing or urbanization, industrial site, and trade.
In many state, land use competition between agriculture with non
agricultural, agricultural land will be taken over for use non-agricultural. To
support rapid progression in non-agriculture sector, demand upper agricultural
land will continue to increase.
According to Uzir and Zainal (1996), in Agricultural Land Food Security
and Issue, “All phenomena above had caused agricultural land price experience
increase since year 1970 except when national economy experience recession in
duration 1985 and 1988”.
By case that, problem to seek agricultural land for farmer is
particularly critical when have to go through high price of land and
competition with non-agriculture sector.
Labour Force
In often questionable agriculture
foreign labour energy problems are in our country. Landowner sound off with
workforce quality hired. Low quality of work reduces productivity and their
gains. Landowner should always ensure their employee carrying out work
properly, so that tax income source of their project achieved more. Apart from
that, employees who adopted need to be ensured having inside efficiency and
experience agriculture activity which operate.
Caused quality of the labour force
from outside cause lack of country profit, opposed local community decision which
party to take outsider to be working in agriculture sector in Malaysia.
According to a participant as cited in King and Nazaruddin (1992), he found
that “Why should our children leave the village in search of work, while work
available in the village is given to outsiders?”.
When
country headed for higher levels of development, factors of production price
increase especially labour would be significant and local labour power supply
will decline due to more attractive salary offer and tendency for them work in
other sector.
Between
key strategies to achieve the objective was by creating commercial opportunity
and new business and prospect in activity based on agriculture by strengthen
agricultural produce competitiveness by improving another efficiency and
productivity through better technology usage. As such, only new agriculture
crop, product, present viable and potential will be explored to ensure the
sector remain competitive.
According
to Economic planning unit (2003), as cited in Utusan Malaysia, suggested “However,
foreign labour will continued to be needed in activity labour incentive are
mainly in plantation sector”.
According to Abd.
Malik and Mohaini (1992) as cited in Alwy (2006), in Tourism: Agriculture Sector in Malaysia Now: Issue,
Problem and Challenge:
Economic
transformation, especially manufacturing development considered a factor which
influenced labour migration from agriculture sector. In year 1957, labour
migration from this sector as many as 515 410 people, while between 1970 to
1980 as many as 953 680 people.
This migration is caused farmer's
children, especially small farmers uninterested on agriculture sector because
low socio-economic state in agriculture
sector, especially in plantations; found job opportunities which offers higher
and guaranteed income in industrial sector; job image in higher industrial
sector; and better social facility in town.
Opportunity
upgrade the economic status through incomes in manufacturing sector and service
more assured. Moreover change crop can give high income impracticable
immediately.
According to Aliasak and
Ahmad (1993) as cited in Alwy (2006) in Tourism: Agriculture Sector in Malaysia Now: Issue, Problem and
Challenge in their research, “Youth education level also had caused they
more intrigued to job opportunities at sector non agricultural. Most youngsters
in agriculture sector, especially those educated and productive uninterested
plunge self in areas of agriculture”.
Unprepared
to accept technology
Technology
usage was important assets in developing agriculture sector in one country. Technology
played an important part in improving agricultural produce and eradicate
poverty problem faced by rural area society. Various efforts which is done by
state governments and international development agencies to extend agricultural
technology. Among them was development of livestock, chemical fertilizer,
insecticide and weed use, machine utilization etc.
Although
already many modern technologies had been created by inside scientist and
change agent agriculture sector, but also found some farmers still adopted
again traditional way. This case are because, they not prepared to accept new
technology. Technology transfer of traditional system to modern system
happening among smallholder has been accredited as big problem in society
developing.
According
to Ministry Agricultural Based Industry (2004), in Conference Direction
Agriculture Sector and Agro-based Industry:
Peasant,
farmer and fisherman must abolish views that 'cubic measure rice would not be a
capacity. My Ministry already implemented a lot various projects aims to help
farmer, farmer and fisherman to release of shackle of poverty. But acceptance
level by peasant society is very difficult to be obtained such as new
technology, automation and new equipment practice and farm management which
complies international quality standards. In fact invariably we clashed with
attitude problems and schools of thought that do not brave to be independent
and changed. We face with enthusiastic peasant society entrepreneurship and
innovative which dare take inside risk try new crops technology and way to
increase good their position. Consequently new technology spread and acceptance
would face deadlock.
Technology
which covered land preparation method before planting, farm control measure of
pest and disease, harvesting way, result care method after harvested and
marketing is key aspect to success in agriculture sector. But due to those
problems is passed by peasant society such as capital shortage problem, small
scale farm size problem and lack of their approach on programme organized by
government agency or private sector.
Capital
shortage problem to get sophisticated technology equipment to replace
traditional equipment in agricultural activity. This case is sourced of lack of
education and knowledge among farmers. As such, its impact, pretty hard for
them get loan from financial institutions such as Agro Bank, MARDI etc.
Apart
from that, small scale farm size issue also is peasant society factor do not
use modern technology. This case because, they think that small scale farm size
does not require to sophisticated machinery to handle their agricultural activity.
Then caused the, they still use traditional equipment.
Lack
of peasant society involvement in activities sponsored by government agencies
and private such as motivation programme , agricultural training
and awareness campaign which propelled they to receiving end and use of modern
technology cause they not prepared to accept new technology.
In
accordance with that, when existence some farmers still adopted traditional
way, then this case would result high labour cost production. Meanwhile, it also
would cause lack of efficiency in agricultural produce production. Case that
would result living standard of farmers no undergo changes caused low income,
further make export goods activity to overseas ebb, while import activity goods
from abroad will continue to increase. According to Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir
Mohamad (2002), as cited in Azman Anuar in Utusan Malaysia (2003), he said “Old
way agriculture cultivated on a small scale not only not help to increase
living standard of farmers, even not contribute much to national income”.
Conclusion
Resource
constraint will on the rise and this could lead to necessary form more
efficient agriculture system and sustainable in future. How readiness
constraint land for agriculture able overcame? You can refer to modern
agriculture cases and high-tech in several developed nation.
Although
agriculture sector can develop but expansion from more circumscribed space
aspect in future. In lack of land most countries can be planted increasingly given
attention and step to overcome began to be implemented. Intensification
production could be enhanced through new production method development to
replace traditional practice which uses
land by extensive. Prospect for this still being question mark especially in
succeed agriculture system more sustainable.
To
overcome inside labour shortage problem short-term, foreign labour use needed.
In the long run also, automation and modern technology by intensive need to be
carried out. Now many activities in
agricultural production may be carried out by using machinery and modern
technology.
Economic
transformation bring contribution decline agriculture sector to national
economy. Found variety problem faced by agriculture sector, especially
sub-sector farmer and small farmer. To overcome smallholder
and small farmer problem, agriculture need to be worked by commercial farm so
that can create farm having size economic and can be worked by follow economies
of scale. With existence economic size, usable mechanization usage and modern
technology with economic.
References
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Azima Binti
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Kuala
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(2006). Tourism: Agriculture Sector in Malaysia Now: Issue, Problem and
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