KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26: Developing Muslim countries sought ways on Thursday to help their farmers boost production and prevent the global economic downturn from choking the steady supply of affordable food.

Agriculture ministers and business officials from eight nations began a two-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur to discuss cooperation on food.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said food security was “not only a prerequisite for social and economic development but also a necessary condition for domestic stability”.—AP