Maha site should be made agrotourism centre: Ahmad Zahid

SERDANG: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has suggested that the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism (Maha) exhibition site be turned into an agrotourism centre to continue promoting the products.

Closing the Maha 2016 edition at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) today, he said he wanted the Maha site to remain "alive" and not be a hive of activity only once every two years when the Maha show was held.

With this suggestion, Ahmad Zahid wishes to be the coordinating chairman to efforts to promote the Maha site as a venue for on-going agricultural promotion activities.

"We have seen the success of Maha from being held at a small site to a park today. I hope the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister will be creative in making the Maha site an agrotourism centre," he said.

Maha 2016, themed 'Our Food, Our Future', started on Dec 1 and ended today.
Ahmad Zahid, who arrived at the Maha 2016 show at 9.30am, toured the Agro-Based Industry Bazaar, NAFAS Cube, Sado Hybrid Cattle Exhibition, Perak House and Sarawak House.

He then spent about half an hour enjoying lunch at Empayar Makanan (Food Empire).

At the event's closing ceremony, Ahmad Zahid also presented the prize of a Modenas motorcycle, contributed by the National Farmers Organisation (Nafas), to Maha 2016 3.5 millionth visitor Mohd Asim Omar, 22, who hails from Sarawak.

A first-time visitor to the Maha show, Mohd Asim, a catering worker, plans to send the motorcycle to his family in Sarawak.

Ahmad Zahid also handed out the prizes to the winners in the best state house (pavilion) competition, with Perak House emerging as the top winner followed by Terengganu House and Kelantan House in second and third place respectively.
By making the Maha site an agrotourism centre, Ahmad Zahid said by the end of the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) plan in 2050, Malaysia which was expected to have a population of about 50 million, would not need to import most of its food.

"We will have sufficient food for local consumption and we can also export with the quality of food produced using the best technology," he said.

Ahmad Zahid also said that he was impressed with the record-breaking number of visitors to MAHA 2016, the biggest agriculture show in the country.

He said MAHA this time saw the biggest number of visitors, made the most sales, was the most creative and had the most publicity.

He called on the participating entrepreneurs and traders to give 50% to 70% discount on products to the visitors of MAHA 2016, which was responded with a loud applause from the crowd. — Bernama