Malaysia behind Singapore in global food security index
Malaysia is placed behind Singapore in the Global Food Security Index (GFSI), with Singapore named the most food secure nation in Asean, the latest report said.
Singapore has a global rank of No. 4 followed by Malaysia at No. 41 in the September 2017 baseline – out of 113 countries in the listing.
Singapore, which does not have an agriculture sector, seem to have done well with it high per capita income of $73,168 and its ability to import quality food stocks, store them and make them available to its population explains its high ranking in the 2017 GFSI, wrote DR. WILLIAM DAR in the Manilla Times today.
On the other hand, countries in Southeast Asia that export rice like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar are ranked lower than Malaysia in these latest GFSI ranking, or at No. 53, 64, 84 and 80, respectively.
Rice producing countries that also import the staple, like Indonesia and the Philippines, were ranked lower or at No. 73 and 79, respectively, said Dar.
The 2017 GFSI also included a “new environmental criteria,” according to a Dr. Rolando Dy. The environment criteria is under the Natural Resources and Resilience (NRR) that ranks a country’s readiness to deal with issues related to sustainable utilization of natural resources and climate change.
Both Singapore and Malaysia – the top two nations in the GFSI – are worse off in terms of NRR.
“Dr. Dy said the Philippines is grouped with Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam when it comes to countries that are worse off in terms of NRR, while Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia ranked higher in NRR, also when it comes to Asean countries.
“Dr. Dy said that overall, the Philippines ranked sixth among Southeast Asian countries, and seventh among nine countries in affordability and availability, as well as NRR. When it comes to quality and safety for food, the country ranked fifth,” wrote Dar.
Dr. Dy said that overall, the Philippines ranked sixth among Southeast Asian countries, and seventh among nine countries in affordability and availability, as well as NRR. When it comes to quality and safety for food, the country ranked fifth.
