KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8, 2025 — Water scarcity is emerging as one of the most critical challenges to global food security, according to Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu. He emphasized that irrigation must be treated not as a relic of the past but as essential infrastructure for preserving peace, prosperity, and a stable food supply chain.
Speaking at the opening of the 4th World Irrigation Forum (WIF4) and associated high-level gatherings in Kuala Lumpur, he drew attention to a striking statistic: although only 20% of the world’s arable land is irrigated, it produces 40% of global food output. This imbalance underscores how critical irrigation systems are to feeding the planet.
Minister Mohamad framed water’s importance within a broader philosophical and spiritual context, quoting the Qur’an: “And We made from water every living thing.” He said this verse underscores water’s central role—not just as a source of life, but as a foundational pillar of food security, societal stability, and economic resilience.
ASEAN’s Role in Cooperative Water Solutions
Mohamad stressed that ASEAN nations must strengthen cross-border cooperation in water management. He called for joint investments in climate-smart irrigation research and the harmonization of standards to ensure food security across the region. He noted that with ASEAN’s population surpassing 600 million and key river basins like the Mekong and Chao Phraya under stress, shared action is imperative.
Malaysia’s Domestic Strategy: Future-Proofing Irrigation
Underlining Malaysia’s own agenda, Mohamad detailed the National Agrofood Policy (2021–2030), which includes ambitious goals for enhancing water resilience and productivity. Among the initiatives:
- Modernizing 200,000 hectares of irrigated land using digital and AI-driven systems
- Reducing non-revenue water losses by 15% by 2030 through IoT-based monitoring
- Deploying drones and precision agriculture techniques to optimize water use
- Embedding climate-smart irrigation practices into mainstream farming
Global Implications and Multilateral Engagement
On the global stage, Mohamad highlighted irrigation’s centrality to achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Malaysia intends to collaborate with international bodies like the FAO, World Bank, and the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) to elevate irrigation as strategic infrastructure vital for collective resilience and prosperity.
The week-long forum at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur brought together international experts, policymakers, and stakeholders, with the minister calling for a shared Joint Declaration to formalize global commitment to safeguarding water and food systems.
