PLANTATION & COMMODITY
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PLANTATION & COMMODITY
@ AGROBiz | January-February. 2026
Leadership shift
• A Cabinet reorganisation sees Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad assume the commodities portfolio as Malaysia sharpens its focus on sustainable agribusiness development.
• The leadership transition at the Plantation and Commodities Ministry is part of a broader Cabinet restructuring.
• Kenaf is positioned as a future green commodity within Malaysia’ s agro-commodity strategy.
MALAYSIA’ S plantation and commodity landscape is set for a new phase following a Cabinet reshuffle that saw Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad take the helm of the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities.
The leadership change came amid a broader Cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in December 2025, following an earlier round of changes in December 2023, aimed at reinforcing economic growth, filling key vacancies, and enhancing administrative efficiency.
As part of the latest exercise, Datuk Johari Ghani was reassigned to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry( MITI), paving the way for Noraini’ s appointment. Her entry into the portfolio comes at a time when sustainability, smallholder resilience and downstream value creation remain central to the sector’ s agenda.
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A NEW DIRECTION: Noraini’ s appointment comes as Malaysia reinforces sustainability and smallholder resilience within its commodity industries. |
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SECTOR RESET
Industry observers view her return to a commodity-focused role as timely, given her recent stint as chair of the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority( RISDA) from March 2023 to January 2024. The experience placed her at the forefront of issues affecting rubber smallholders, including productivity improvement and income stability.
Noraini brings with her a broad administrative background. She previously served as Minister of Higher Education between March
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2020 and October 2022, and earlier as Deputy Minister of Human Resources from March 2008 to April 2009. Prior to the latest appointment, she was Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.
Her academic credentials reflect a strong grounding in finance and management. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Quantitative Analysis and Finance from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, and a Master of Business Administration from Universiti Tun Abdul Razak. In 2016, she completed a doctorate in Development Management at Universiti Utara Malaysia.
Politically, the Parit Sulong Member of Parliament has held the seat for four consecutive terms since 2008 and has served as UMNO Women ' s chief since June 2018. She also made history as the first woman to chair the Public Accounts Committee, serving from April 2019 until March 10, 2020.
Her appointment is expected to provide continuity in policy direction as Malaysia advances its sustainable plantation and commodity agenda.
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Kenaf goes green
MALAYSIA’ S kenaf sector is being repositioned as a strategic green commodity, with the government stepping up efforts to strengthen its role within the national agro-commodity framework.
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad said the crop should no longer be treated as a marginal planting but recognised as a contributor to long-term sustainability.
“ For 2025, the National Kenaf and Tobacco Board( LKTN) has processed an estimated 70 tonnes of kenaf seeds,” she said in a statement issued in conjunction with her working visit to Perlis and a breaking-of-fast event at Dewan Bukit Keteri, Beseri.
Noraini noted that industry modernisation would remain a priority to ensure growers receive competitive and sustainable returns. The ministry is also targeting 2,500 hectares of kenaf cultivation by the 2025 / 2026 season to strengthen the agrocommodity base further and enhance farmers’ incomes.
EXPANDING ROLE FOR KENAF SECTOR
During the visit, Noraini highlighted downstream developments that have emerged from kenaf cultivation. Collaborations with Universiti Malaysia Kelantan and Universiti Malaysia Perlis have led to diversified products, including mushroom cultivation using kenaf and padi waste, cat food products marketed under the Ecovet brand, and kenaf leaf
FARMER PAYOUTS: Seed revenue payments presented to Perlis growers for the 2025 / 2026 season. tea sold under the Biokenaf brand for health and weight management.
The Biokenaf formulation, developed by UMK researcher Dr Maryana Mohamad Nor, has also paved the way for a health supplement.
Noraini said Perlis’ experience in kenaf cultivation has attracted international attention, including potential cooperation with Kenya, given similarities in semi-arid climate conditions.
“ Kenaf planting has expanded rapidly in Padang Besar and Chuping, replacing areas previously dominated by sugarcane and tobacco,” she said, expressing confidence that the crop could have a significant impact on the national economy.
Key industry infrastructure includes the Kenaf Integrated Park( KIP) in Chuping, a pilot initiative focused on processing kenaf pulp into biodegradable products.
Ongoing research has also extended kenaf fibre applications into automotive, construction and textile manufacturing, alongside mutation breeding using nuclear technology. New varieties, MK1 and MK2, have been developed to improve global competitiveness.
At the event, Noraini presented seed revenue payments to Perlis growers for the 2025 / 2026 season, recognising strong yields recorded by several farmers.- @ AGROBiz