Malaysian farmers have been encouraged to make use of government initiatives to tap into international markets, which will ensure higher returns, said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

　　The move would help avert the global food shortage crisis by turning farmers into suppliers in the global food supply chain, the PM said after launching the National Farmers Organisation (Nafas) annual general assembly here yesterday.

　　“The industry needs to expand through technology, research, innovation and best practices to create productivity.

　　“By looking beyond the local market and instead playing a bigger part in the global food supply chain, farmers can benefit from higher returns,” said Najib.

　　Also present at the event was Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar.

　　Najib also called on youths to be involved in the industry through successful government initiatives such as the Rural Transformation Centres and 16 entry point projects under the National Key Economic Area.

　　Meanwhile, Bernama news agency reported that Najib tweeted a congratulatory message to Liberal Democratic Party president Shinzo Abe on the party’s victory in Japan’s general elections on Sunday.

　　Abe, 58, who last led Japan in 2006 and resigned a year later, is most likely to be chosen as Japan’s seventh premier in six years in a special parliamentary session on December 26.