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BY ADELINE ANTHONY ALPHONSO
THE 13th Malaysian Plan( RMK13), unveiled recently by Prime Minister Dato ' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, sets the direction for national development from 2026 to 2030. The plan charts a course toward sustainable growth, economic resilience, and inclusivity. One of the pillars of this roadmap lies in strengthening Malaysia ' s agriculture and agri-food sectors- a timely focus given the global disruptions affecting food systems.
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REFLECTING ON RMK12
During RMK12, the agrofood sub-sector made significant strides, contributing 53.3 per cent to the overall agricultural value-added output in 2024, surpassing the agricommodity sub-sector.
This period saw the establishment of several key initiatives that now serve as the bedrock for the continuity and expansion of RMK13.
Several programmes were launched to improve domestic food production. These included the SMART Sawah Berskala Besar( SMART SBB) initiative in Sekinchan, covering 1,516 hectares to
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increase the nation ' s rice selfsufficiency rate.
Between 2023 and 2025, another effort, the Five Crops in Two Years rice programme, saw 419 farmers boost yields from 3.8 to 5.0 metric tonnes per hectare.
The concept of ' One Planting, Three Harvests ' helped expand pineapple cultivation to over 18,000 hectares, resulting in exports surpassing 42,000 metric tonnes.
Local research also produced three new onion varieties( BAW-1, BAW-2, and BAW-3), while the maise industry for animal feed was ramped up with over 6,000 metric tonnes harvested.
Youth entrepreneurship in agriculture was encouraged through the Agropreneur Muda Grant, benefiting over 800 recipients. Additionally, the 7,295 Agro MADANI Sales Programmes had drawn over 4.28 million visitors by April 2025.
Regulatory progress was also made with the establishment of Malaysia ' s dedicated agri-food regulatory agency, which monitors and enforces standards across the entire value chain.
These initiatives laid the groundwork for RMK13 ' s expansion.
1. Enhancing food production
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Malaysia ' s strategic approach under RMK13 involves a significant expansion of its food production capacity through large-scale farming, particularly in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, as well as in Sabah and Sarawak.
These regions have been identified as future food production hubs with the potential to uplift rural economies and contribute to export earnings.
Strategic partnerships between the government and the private sector will play a crucial role in enhancing rice production, particularly in areas such as Muda, Kedah, and Perlis.
Infrastructure improvements, such as better irrigation and drainage systems, will support this goal alongside smart agriculture practices.
There is also a push to explore underutilised crops
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such as tubers, legumes, and high-protein plants as alternative food sources.
This exploration opens up new possibilities and the potential for a more diverse and sustainable agricultural landscape, fostering optimism about the future of agriculture in Malaysia.
To ensure more sustainable use of food, greater collaboration with food operators and civil society groups will be encouraged to reduce waste and promote zero-waste practices.
2. Strengthening food supply security
To reduce dependency on a limited number of import partners, RMK13 will diversify import sources and enhance national risk management.
This includes tightening procedures at entry points through improved import permits and food safety certifications.
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