The importance of agriculture growth on food security in selected middle-income countries: The case of Malaysia - Thailand

Countries with high levels of poverty and chronic malnutrition face constraints in developing the human capital necessary for sustainable growth. High poverty levels, inequality, and chronic malnutrition force governments to invest substantial short-term resources through social security networks and conditional cash transfers. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, a high malnutrition rate can contribute to a national loss of 4 to 5 per cent in the gross domestic product (GDP). Besides that, Food security carries significant benefits for human health and serves as the basis to achieve sustained economic growth as according to International Food Policy Research Institute. Efforts to promote food security must distinguish between short-term and medium-term measures and between countries with agricultural potential and without such potential. Furthermore, while high international food prices provide appropriate incentives for agricultural development, it would be misguided to expect that they will automatically result in an increase in agricultural output.