1. Do you think Malaysia is on the right track in re-emphasizing agriculture?

Yes - 32 votes (66 %)

Maybe - 8 votes (17%)

No - 6 votes (13%)

Don't know - 2 votes (4%)

 Total votes - 48

2. Do you think biotechnology can serve as an enabling technology in transforming agriculture to create more value?

Yes - 36 votes (79 %)

Maybe - 6 votes (13%)

No - 2 votes (4%)

Don't know - 2 votes (4%)

 Total votes - 46

3. Do you think biotechnology should be employed to transform the agriculture sector to create more value?

Yes - 30 votes (68 %)

Maybe - 12 votes (27%)

No - 2 votes (5%)

Don't know - 0 votes (0%)

 Total votes - 44

4. Would you encourage your children to pursue their tertiary education in agriculture?

Yes - 10 votes (26 %)

Maybe -18 votes (47%)

No - 4 votes (11%)

Don't know - 6 votes (16%)

 Total votes - 38

5. Do you foresee a modernized agriculture sector in Malaysia in the next 10 years?

Yes - 16 votes (40 %)

Maybe - 18 votes (45%)

No - 2 votes (5%)

Don't know - 4 votes (10%)

 Total votes - 40

With the current push for Agricultural biotechnology by the government, it has been much debated on whether Malaysia is going on the right track. A recent poll see that readers support the government’s effort in re-emphasizing agriculture, with the majority of votes (67%) maintaining that the government is on the right track. This is contrasted with 17% maintaining possibility and 13% believing otherwise.

This sentiment is further brought forth as readers polled generally believed that biotechnology can serve as an enabling technology in transforming agriculture to create more value (78%), compared to 13% maintaining their reservations and 4% believing not. 68% polled also believed that biotechnology should be employed to transform the agriculture sector, compared to the 27% who responded maybe and a further 5% with no.

However, it seems that such support may be lacking in terms of commitment as readers are generally less supportive of their children pursuing their tertiary education in agriculture. Out of 38 polled, only 10 supported the cause, while 18 maintained a wait and see approach. A further 4 would not send their children, and 6 were undecided.

In general, readers still do not see great opportunities in the field, as only 40% generally believed that it would be modernised locally in 10 years. 45% maintained the possibility, but stop at outright supporting the cause, while only 5% rejected the idea.